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Oracle Captures Crown
(June 5, 2009)
Oracle Residences was challenged to the
very end but Mark Barroca was there to bail the Titans
out of danger that burnished their reputation as the
greatest amateur ball club in modern history.
Showing steely resolve, Barroca, who hade
only three points in Game 4, made all his eight free
throws in the last two minutes as Oracle pulled off
an 82-69 win over Pharex and ruled the 2009 PBL PG Flex
Unity Cup yesterday at the Ynares Sports Center.
The Titans gained the early initiative
and led as many as 16 points but needed the steady shooting
of Barroca to finally take the fight out of the fighting
Pharex squad and give the Harbour Centre franchise its
seventh straight championship.
And this thrilled Harbour Center owner
Mikee Romero who is still in the United States.
In his text message to team manager Erick
Arejola, team owner Mikee Romero said the championship
was perhaps one of their toughest because of a different
cast.
“We had several new players, new
coach but our never say die attitude has lived again,”
said Romero. “Erick also did a great job handling
the team, he’s one of the heroes of the team.”
“Handling Harbour was a big challenge,
the pressure was there from Day One but I like to thank
Mr. Romero for believing in me. Also I would like to
thank the Far Eastern University community for supporting
me and to all players who helped make this dream a reality,”
said coach Glenn Capacio.
The 5-foot-9 Barroca also had six rebounds,
three assists and three steals that atoned for his six
turnovers, most of them in the first half.
With Ronnie Matias and JR Gerillia combining
in a bristling 12-1 salvo, the Bidang Generix threatened
at 67-71 with 1:58 remaining before Barroca made two
of his eight free throws to ease the tension.
Pharex still had the chance to cut Oracle’s
lead but Francis Allera missed his three-point attempt
that hastened their downfall as Barroca was sent to
the foul line again. And again he made those freebies
for a 75-67 lead.
Oracle’s defense was impressive,
especially on Josh Urbiztondo.
The Fil-Am guard, who led Pharex in Game
4 after tallying 19 points – highlighted by five
triples – was shutdown this time through the efforts
of Timberlake and Barroca.
It was all over after that for the Bidang
Generix, who became only the second team to force the
Harbour Centre franchise to game 5.
Pharex again dominated the boards, 54-40,
but their poor shooting did them in. They made only
24 of 82 tries for 29 percent against 44 percent for
the Titans, going 27 of 61.
Timberlake, who had eight points, five
assists, three rebounds, two blocks and an assists,
was later adjudged the Finals MVP with Barroca taking
the Pivotal Player of the best-of-five title series.
The Titans’ shooting sizzled in
the first quarter with Benedict Fernandez and RP Developmental
team member JR Cawaling making their 3-pointers that
saw them take a 20-8 lead.
But they found themselves in a tight and
tense battle throughout the second quarter as Ronnie
Matias and JR Gerilla came through with huge plays that
enabled them to move within four points.
Maierhofer enabled to draw fouls with
his aggressive plays in the shaded lane to finish the
half with 9 points, five of them from the free throw
area that gave them a 36-26 lead.
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