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Pharex exceeds expectations
by Jonas Terrado (March 20, 2010)
Before the 2010 PBL PG Flex-Erase Placenta
Cup began, everyone expected Pharex B-Complex to be
one of four teams that will get an early vacation.
The naysayers have every reason to say
so. First, its roster is composed mostly of cagers from
University of the Philippines - a team that has underachieved
for years, if not, decades in the UAAP. Second, coach
Aboy Castro has yet to prove his worth as a mentor who
could lead a team to contention. And third, the rest
of the lineup are either role players or names that
were never heard before.
Adding insult, the Fighting Maroons were
even tagged as the more inferior squad of the two teams
owned by Pascual Laboratories. Their sister team, Ascof
Lagundi (coincidentally was previously known as Pharex),
was picked as one of the title favorites after coming
off a runner-up finish in last year's Unity Cup.
It was never meant to be. As it turned
out, the Natural Cough Busters failed to enter the semifinals
while Pharex is trying to complete a Cinderella run
towards the elusive crown after finishing the elimination
round with the tournament's best record.
Pharex clinched that spot last Tuesday,
when it leaned on transition offense and a tight-defensive
effort in beating stubborn Excelroof, 74-68, for its
fifth straight win. And after finishing the elimination
round with a 6-1 record, it seems everyone has given
them respect.
But for Castro, whose only rose to fame
as head coach was steering UP to a stunning upset of
eventual two-time champion Ateneo in last year's UAAP
season until now, No. 1 won't mean a thing without the
title.
"No. 1 kami sa semis but we want
to be No. 1 two weeks from now. Bale wala itong No.
1 sa semis kung hindi ka naman dadalhin dun (sa championship),"
said Castro.
In fact, this team could have swept the
seven-game schedule, if not for a heartbreaking 77-76
loss to Cobra after wasting a 10-pojnt lead in the fourth.
But nonetheless, how did Pharex became such a strong
team?
Perhaps it was a combination of cohesion
plus the addition of several players that proved to
be solid-if-not super during the tournament.
With nine past and present players from
UP, Pharex got players who are familiar with each other
and also to the system being imposed by Castro, who
is glad to see his players experience the taste of winning
games.
"Sa totoo lang. I'm very happy for
the boys especially those in UP because they realize
how to win, di pa kami sanay na manalo," said Castro,
who has compiled just five victories since coaching
the school in 2008.
Coming off a strong UAAP season, Woody
Co, norming 11.7 points per game, has been playing well
late in the tournament while point guard Arvie Braganza,
who made a costly turnover in that lone defeat to the
Ironmen, came back strong, leading the league in assists
with an average of 4.4 per game while making himself
a key scorer as well.
But the team also got help from some non
UP players who made solid, if not, super contributions
during the tournament.
There's former Ateneo center Ford Arao,
who despite some lethargic showing provided timely offense
and defensive presence down low, ex-FEU Tamaraw Marlon
Adolfo making instant offense and defense at the forward
spot and San Beda guard JR Tecson, if consistent, making
outside shots.
The super performer for the team, though,
is Manuel, who suddenly rose from a virtual unknown
to become one of the league's top players. In fact,
he has become one of the leading contenders for the
coveted Best Player of the Conference honors.
Prior to this, the 22-year old forward
was the star of the Philippine School of Business Administration
Jaguars in the UCAA and NCRAA, two leagues being played
in small arena with few fans watching and no sportswriters
covering the games, were he was capable of scoring 25-30
points a contest.
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