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Excelroof, Cobra dispute 2nd finals berth
(March 23, 2010)

Game Today
(San Juan City gym)
3 p.m. Excelroof vs Cobra Energy Drink

With momentum on its side, Excelroof guns for the second finals berth today when it collides with Cobra Energy Drink in a knockout match in the 2010 PBL PG Flex Erase Placenta Cup at the San Juan City gym.

Excelroof and Cobra square off in the lone game at 3 p.m. with the 25ers determined to score a follow up to their 89-81 win over the Ironmen last Saturday that forced a do-or-die match in their semis series.

Both the Ironmen and 25ers finished the single-round elims with similar 5-2 records but it was the former who took the No. 2 spot and the twice-to-beat privilege in their semis duel due to the winner-over-the-other rule.

The Ironmen thanks to the late-game heroics of Patrick Cabahug scored a 66-65 thriller over the 25ers in the elims but the Edwin C. Chua-owned squad evened up things with their gutsy win last Saturday.

The winner in the playoff match battles Pharex B-Complex in the finals which will be a best-of-three affair. The series starts on Thursday at The Arena in San Juan City.

Pharex, composed mostly of past and present stars of University of the Philippines, secured the first finals berth by downing Cossack Blue, 96-83.

Obviously, the 25ers enjoy a big psychological advantage over the Ironmen but Excelroof coach Ato Agustin is not discounting the possibility of another cardiac finish since he knows Cobra will make some adjustments to stop them from clinching the second finals berth.

"I'm sure it's going to be a tough game for us again. That's why I have to watch the video tape of our game in order improve our plays," said Agustin, who is out to win his second title as a coach after steering San Sebastian College to the NCAA championship last year at expense of the fancied San Beda College.

Incidentally, the core of Excelroof is made up of San Sebastian players, thus giving Agustin the luxury of knowing his players well compared to Cobra coach Lawrence Chongson who picked his players from various teams and colleges.

Though Cobra's Paul Lee exploded for 29 points, Agustin was still satisfied with the defense put up by his players since they successfully contained the scoring output of former UAAP scoring champion Patrick Cabahug, Pari Llagas and ex-Ateneo star Jai Reyes.

"If we can do that again, then we'll have a very good chance of winning. But if we can't match Cobra's intensity in the shaded lane, then we'll be in big trouble," said Agustin.

The 25ers played cohesively they turned the ball only six times, thus tying the record low (for turnovers) set by Ateneo Pioneer (2001) and Harbour Centre (2008).

Agustin, however, rued the team's free throw shooting where they missed 10 of their 33 tries.

"That's one aspect that we have to improve. We have no problem if our knockout game would be a physical one since my boys are already used to it," said Agustin, who is hoping to get another big numbers from Jimbo Aquino, Pamboy Raymundo, Ronald Pascual, Chester Taylor and the high-leaping Calvin Abueva.

Llagas and Cabahug would up with 18 and 15 points, respectively, but they were hardly a factor at crunch time, while Reyes was held scoreless.

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