HARBOUR Centre waxed hot in the final quarter to crush Magnolia Purewayer, 84-71, in Game 1 of their title series in the 2009 Philippine Basketball League PG Flex Linoleum Cup yesterday at The Arena in San Juan.

Reed Juntilla topscored for the six-peat seeking Harbour Centre with 16 points, but it was veteran Edwin Asoro and rookie JR Cawaling, who struck hardest as they combined for three triples in the fourth to turn the game around.

Two triples by Cawaling?a rising star from Far Eastern University?helped the Batang Pier turn a slim 61-58 lead to a commanding 74-63 edge with less than three minutes left.

Asoro also starred in that run as he also added one triple aside from coming through with a defensive gem on Al Magpayo.

The Wizards were never the same as the Batang Pier moved within a win of clinching an unprecedented sixth straight championship.

?We picked up our defense in the second half because we started flat. That?s because we were a little bit rusty,? said coach Jorge Gallent. ?But it was a good win. I hope this will set the tone of the series.?

Despite the efforts of Asoro and Cawaling, it was Harbour?s defense that spelled the big difference.

?As I said before, defense will decide the outcome of this series. But we have to work harder because I know Magnolia will make major adjustments,? said Gallent.

Typifying the Batang Pier?s splendid defensive effort was that they limited Neil Raneses?the team?s top gunner? to just two points.

The 6?4? Raneses, who averaged 18.4 points going into the opening of the best-of-five title series, finished a dismal 1-of-8 shooting?no thanks to Asoro and Jerwin Gaco who alternated in guarding the former University of Visayas star.