MANILA, Philippines?Harbour Centre and Hapee Toothpaste try to keep their 1-2 positions when they go up against separate opponents in the PBL Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup Tuesday at the Muntinlupa Sports Center.

Although assured of an outright semifinal berth, the unbeaten Batang Pier (11-0) seek to have a lock on the top spot when they tangle with Noosa Shoes (6-7) at 2 p.m.

"It's nice to go to the Final Four with a perfect record," said Harbour coach Jorge Gallent.

But more is at stake for the Complete Protectors, who need to get past San Mig Coffee at 4 p.m. to boost their semifinal chances.

Running second at 8-4, the Complete Protectors must win two of their last three games to clinch the remaining automatic semifinal slot.

Only the top two teams get to the semifinals outright with the rest battling it out in the quarterfinals, except for the two squads with the poorest elimination-round records.

Batang Pier remain favored to pick up a 12th straight victory even without starting center Beau Belga, who will serve a three-game suspension starting Tuesday for incurring three unsportsmanlike fouls.

The four-time champions trampled on the Shoe Stars by 31 points, 79-48, in their first meeting.

Still, Gallent, who has been banking on Jason Castro, TY Tang, Al Vergara and Jeff Chan, is not taking Noosa lightly.

"We can't be complacent since Noosa needs to win to stay in the hunt for the quarterfinals," he said.

The Complete Protectors, led by Gabe Norwood, are also expected to repeat their first-round 76-68 triumph over the Coffee Kings.

League officials, meanwhile, announced that more games will be played in other cities and provinces after Tuesday's action.

"It's part of our vision to get closer to all our supporters and provide them total entertainment at this time of the year," said Philippine Basketball League commissioner Chino Trinidad.

The league will play in Malabon on Thursday, followed by games in Batangas, Tarlac and Baguio next month. Jasmine W. Payo