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Pharex Edges Cossack
(March 21, 2010)
Game Tuesday
(San Juan City gym)
3 p.m. – Excelroof vs Cobra Energy Drink
Pharex B-Complex extended its magical
run yesterday, clobbering Cossack Blue, 96-83, to clinch
the first finals berth in the 2010 PBL PG Flex Erase
Placenta Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
With tournament’s revelation Vic
Manuel and Marlon Adolfo at the helm, the Fighting Maroons
outscored the Spirits in the third period, 27-15, to
set the tone for another breezy win over the team they
mangled in the elims, 96-66.
“We’re truly blessed, we hope
can sustain this run so that we can celebrate a week
from now,” said Pharex coach Aboy Castro.
Pharex will face either Excelroof or Cobra
Energy Drink in the finals which will be a best-of-three
affair.
The Excelroof 25ers outsteadied the Cobra
Ironmen, 89-81, to force a knockout match in their semis
series in the second game. The sudden death will be
held on Tuesday.
Like Pharex B-Complex, Cobra came into
the game armed with a twice-to-beat advantage but Excelroof
drew clutch baskets from Pamboy Raymundo and Jimbo Aquino
to prevail.
Excelroof’s victory negated the
29-point performance of Paul Lee.
The 25ers missed 10 of their 33 free throws
but they played solid all through out as they turned
the ball only six times – tying the record low
set by Ateneo Pioneer (2001) and Harbour Centre (2008).
It was the sixth straight victory for
the Pascual Laboratories-owned squad in the tournament.
They clinched a twice-to-beat advantage over Cossack
in the series after topping the elims with a 6-1 record.
For topping the elims, Pharex had already
outperformed sister team Ascof Lagundi who is Pascual
Laboratories’ main team in the season-opening
tournament.
In that pivotal stretch, Manuel was almost
unstoppable, scoring almost at will in the shaded area
to finish with 11 points while Adolfo, a former Far
Eastern University star, had eight points to help Pharex
B-Complex build a 65-55 lead going into the final 10
minutes.
The Spirits, however, opened the fourth
quarter with a 9-4 run with Paul Zamar banging in three
straight triples that pushed them to within a 64-69.
They have another chance to move closer
but JR Taganas – unable to control his huge frame
– rammed into Nestor David for an offensive foul,
a call wildly protested by Cossack coach Rena Baena.
Baena was slapped a technical foul for
that, thus sending Adolfo to the stripes for Baena’s
infraction.
Adolfo, who finished with 21 points –
his highest output so far – converted the two
free throws which sparked a telling 14-4 run that all
but ended Cossack’s momentum.
The 6-foot-4 Manuel, who scored three
straight baskets in that salvo, led anew the Fighting
Maroons with a career-tying 27 points.
He highlighted his performance by notching
his third double-double performance with 12 rebounds.
He also had four assists, one steal and a block in only
26 minutes of action, enough to earn another glowing
words from his coach.
“Same old story, Vic put on another
huge game but again it’s total team effort,”
said Castro. Definitely, he (Manuel) is the best player
for this conference. He is so hardworking.”
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