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Unity Cup Finals Game 1 Performers
By Jonas Terrado (May 27, 2009)

Top Performers

5. Chris Timberlake (Oracle) - He finished with just eight points, four rebounds and four assists in 33 minutes as the team's starting point guard but made key plays in the fourth quarter that also saw him blocked a three-point shot by Francis Allera with his team ahead by four with 25 seconds left.

4. Mark Barroca (Oracle) - The RP developmental team standout, who was supposed to fly early to Japan for an invitational tournament, made a surprise appearance after the Titans received permission from the SBP to let him play in Game 1. And he performed solidly for Oracle with 14 points, nine rebounds and four assists in 31 minutes but won't be around for Game 2 on Thursday.

3. Benedict Fernandez (Oracle) - Shot 8-of-17 from the floor for 19 points and made key baskets early in the third quarter when the Titans gained a commanding 11-point lead. Fernandez has been providing solid support on offense for most of the season-ending conference.

2. Rico Maierhofer (Oracle) - Adjudged as the league's Defensive Stopper early in the first quarter, Maierhofer proved he can also deliver offensively as he made four straight points, including a jam that put Oracle in front for good at the midway point of the fourth. He finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds off the bench.

1. Ronnie Matias (Pharex) - With do-it-all Chris Ross struggling, it was lanky forward who delivered for the Bidang Generix as he scored a career-high 28 points and 12 rebounds. Matias was responsible for bringing the Bidang Generix back from a double-digit deficit to take a five-point lead

Honorable Mention: Ian Saladaga (Pharex), Francis Allera (Pharex), Rob Labagala (Oracle)

Not-so-top Performers

5. Jerwin Gaco (Oracle) - He was solid for Oracle with five points and seven rebounds but didn't showed enough physical presence against the frontline of Ronnie Matias, Bryan Faundo and Raymond Aguilar like he did against the UE Red Warriors-led Cobra big men.

4. Kojack Melegrito (Pharex) - One of the reasons why the Bidang Generix lack the production off the bench. With Ross struggling, the Letran Knight failed to respond as he was scoreless in 10 minutes and grabbed three rebounds.

3. Sean Co (Pharex) - One of the top bench players and fastbreak contributors for head coach Carlo Tan, Co had no points to show and got three rebounds in 15 minutes.

2. Dondon Villamin (Pharex) - Back after getting suspended for the rest of the semifinals, Villamin had five assists but made errant shots in the second half that hurt Pharex, especially in the fourth quarter.

1. Chris Ross (Pharex) - After posting a near triple-double in the semis against Licealiz, Ross struggled in his first finals appearance with just eight points, eight rebounds and six assists as Oracle made a strong defensive strategy against him.

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