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Hapee takes on Toyota; Ever Bilena debuts today
(November 16, 2008)

Games Today
(Ynares Sports Center, Pasig City)
2 p.m. – Burger King vs Pharex (M)
4 p.m. – Hapee Toothpaste vs Toyota Otis (M)
6 p.m. – Ever Bilena vs Muscle Tape-Lyceum (W)

With Fil-Am Joshua Vanlandingham getting into the groove, Hapee Toothpaste shoots for its second straight win against Toyota Otis today even as Ever Bilena starts its title retention bid in the women’s competition of the PBL PG Flex Linoleum Cup at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City.

Hapee and Toyota Otis clash at 4 p.m. with the Complete Protectors determined to follow up their surprisingly easy 91-76 win over Burger King last Saturday where the 6-foot-3 Vanlandingham sizzled for 14 points.

In the first game, Burger King tries to bounce back from its stinging defeat to Hapee Toothpaste when it collides with still winless Pharex at 2 p.m.

Ever Bilena, owned by former league chairman Dioceldo Sy, battles Chito Narvasa’s Muscle Tape-Lyceum in the lone WPBL match at 6 p.m.

Ever Bilena triumphed in two times the women’s competition was held in the league in the late 90s, and coach Patrick Aquino hopes to relive their dominance this year.

Meantime, Discovery Suites-RP Women’s team notched its second win by repulsing the spirited challenge of Sunkist-La Salle, 71-54, in a game held over the weekend.

After a quiet two-point debut in the team’s 84-88 defeat to Bacchus on Nov. 11, Vanlandinghang, a product of Pacific Lutheran College – an NCAA Division II school – exploded in their game against the Burger Stunners by draining all his four tries from the three-point area, including three straight late in the second quarter that ripped the game wide apart.

What made his performance even more impressive was that he scored all his points inside six minutes.

“He’s really a good shooter but when we took him into the team, he was really out of shape. Pero sa pinakita niya last time, I’m sure, he will be a marked man,” said team manager Bernard Yang. “14 points in six minutes, impressive talaga ang kamay ng bata.”

Yang, however, said they might miss forward Dino Daa today due to injury he suffered during the Bantay Bata game between UAAP and NCAA stars.

“Namamaga ang paa niya, so baka hindi siya makalaro,” said Yang.

Burger King coach Allan Gregorio expects a close and exciting game with the Pharex Generix, saying they’re evenly matched.

As to their defeat to Hapee the last time out, Gregorio explained: “We were a tired team last Saturday, but we hope to get more energy in both offense and defense. We have to stop their shooters as well to win.”

Gregorio will have to rely again on Ogie Menor, Marcy Arellano and Jason Ballesteros against the Generix who will be led by Francis Allera, Ian Saladana, Chris Ross, Ronnie Matias and Don Villamin.

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The scores

Hapee (91) -- Vanlandingham 14, Cruz 13, Hugnatan 13, Viray 10, Daa 8, Morial 7, Lucernas 7, Grijaldo 6, Saguindel 6, Convento 4, Espiritu 3, Olarte 0

Burger King (76) -- Arellano 20, Hermida 17, Menor 15, Ballesteros 10, Taganas 6, Nocom 6, Popus 2, Gamalinda 0, Ilad 0, Pascual 0, Tirona 0, Manuel 0, Tecson 0.

Quarterscores: 23-21, 55-43, 76-54, 91-76.

Magnolia (77) -- Magpayo 20, Ababou 18, Alcaraz 13, Raneses 10, Taylor 6, Saldua 5, Escueta 2, Mirza 2, Rodriguez 1, Banal 0, Balneg 0, Losentes 0, Pascual 0

Toyota Otis (65) -- Rodriguez 13, Cabahug 10, SEna 9, Timberlake 8, J Mangahas 6, Jazul 4, Faundo 4, Aldave 3, Walsham 2, Casio 2, Dedicatoria 2, Hayes 2, Wilson 0, A Mangahas 0, Pascual 0.

Quarterscores: 16-20, 35-38, 56-53, 77-65.

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