"Maraming pahihirapan iyang si Estong (Ballesteros)," he said. "We can develop mismatches because he (Ballesteros) can play both inside and outside." "Si Jay (Mendoza) naman napakalakas sa loob, walang takot," Narvasa added. Ballesteros, a former UST Tiger, paced the winners with 22 markers while Mendoza scored eight of his 15 points in the final quarter. Pop Cola mentor Derek Pumaren attributed Belasco's sluggish performance to his unfamiliarity with local playing conditions but believes that this year's number two pick is improving as time goes by.

"He (Belasco) still has a lot of adjustments to do, he is still feeling his way through the local brand of play," reasoned Pumaren. In complete contrast, Belasco did not show a semblance of an inside game. Scoring a measly six points, the 6-6 forward contented himself shooting from the outside missing most of them. Meanwhile, Shell team manager Jimmy Aizon bared that there is no longer any problem with new recruit Giovanni Pineda and his former team Alaska Milk. Last week the 6-5 swingman signed up with Shell but it turned up that he was not yet given his release papers by his former ballclub. -NOEL L. RODRIGUEZ