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Excelroof, Cobra eye share of lead
(March 10, 2010)

Games Tomorrow
(Ynares Sports Arena, Pasig)
2 p.m. – AddMix vs Pharex B Complex
4 p.m. – Fern-C vs Ascof Lagundi

Calvin Abueva and Jimbo Aquino came through with clutch baskets in the last 17 seconds to help lift Excelroof to a pulsating 87-83 win and to a share of the lead in the 2010 PG Flex Erase Placenta Cup yesterday at The Arena in San Juan.

After Aquino broke an 83-83 count, Abueva rose to the occasion, splitting his charities in two occasions he went to the foul line to seal the deal and tie Pharex B-Complex and Cossack Blue for the lead at 4-1.

“It was a scary win but I have to take it,” said Excelroof coach Ato Agustin. “Mabuti na lang Calvin stepped up when we needed it most.”

The 6-foot-2 Abueva did just everything on the court, providing picks and screens, but more importantly, he towered over Fern-C defenders with his tremendous leaping ability.

The late-game heroics of Abueva and Aquino negated another 30-point explosion of John Wilson.

It was the third time that Wilson scored 30 points or more in five games. But his effort may just go down the drain since Fern-C is now danger of being eliminated with a 1-4 record.

In the second game, Ascof Lagundi repulsed the repeated rallies of Cobra Energy Drink to eke out a 74-71 win and keep its semis bid alive.

With the win, the Cough Busters improved their record to 2-3 while handing the Ironmen their second defeat in five games, thus making the semis race a lot more exciting.

Rob Labagala, a former stalwart of University of the East, struck hardest for the Cough Busters with 15 points.

Pamboy Raymundo led the Excelroof 25ers with 24 points but was scoreless in the extra period, forcing Chester Taylor and Abueva to raise their game a notch higher.

The 6-foot-5 Taylor finished with 12 points, including a triple to start off the extra period.Aquino was held only to a basket in the first three quarters before rediscovering his touch in the fourth where he scored eight points, including back-to-back baskets that gave them a 66-69 lead.

But the Ferntastics came through with a whirlwind attack capped by a booming trey by Ray Maconocido from a broken play to send the game into overtime.

The scores:

First Game

Excelroof 87 – Raymundo 24, Sangalang 13, Aquino 12, Taylor 12, Abueva 11, Bulawan 7, Del Rio 4, Agustin 2, Delgado 2, Suguitan 0, Mendoza 0, Villanueva 0.

Fern-C 83 – Wilson 30, Espiritu 14, Escueta 7, Maconocido 7, Semira 6, Evangelista 5, Dizon 4, Co 4, Walsham 2, Thiele 0, Graebel 0.

Quarters: 23-16; 35-33; 52-49; 73-73; 87-83.

Second Game

Ascof Lagundi 74 – Labagala 15, Canlas 12, Gamalinda 12, Asoro 12, Aguilar 9, Leynes 7, Laneta 3, Bustos 2, Co 2, Uyloan 0, Cole 0.

Cobra 71 – Cabahug 24, Lee 11, Llagas 8, Reyes 7, Hayes 7, Aguilar 4, Fampulme 4, Torres 2, Sarangay 2, Mangahas 2, Barua 0.

Quarters: 16-11; 40-30; 58-48; 74-71.

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