Ozamiz goes for the jugular tonite in NBC finals

The OZAMIZ Cotta vows to bring out the broom tonight.

The southern conference champions has finally broke their winning pattern by winning game one on the road, which eluded them in their first two play-off series.

Whether it augurs well for the much coveted national title or a bad omen to play the exact opposite of their come-from-behind series wins earlier in the play-offs will be known 6pm today when they clash anew with the Far Eastern Insurance-backed Cavite in game two of the national finals of the 2005 Panasonic-NBC national championship at the Gov. Angel Medina Sr. gym.

The Cotta Shrine team of Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog has battled back two game one losses to win both series against the Iligan Crusaders and ousted defending champion Tribu Sugbu.

"The pressure is there and it's already up to my players to respond. We should be extra cautious since Cavite is the only team, which gave us a loss here at our homecourt," Ozamiz coach Albert Calvo said.

The Insurers of Bacoor Vice Mayor Edwin Malvar and strong supporter Gov. Irineo "Ayong" Maliksi are still smarting from that game one meltdown, a 65-63 loss, despite leading the entire fourth period until Bob Cozy Ilanga's drive in the final five seconds.

Ilanga, who stepped up his game since a scoreless performance in game one of Ozamiz's conference finals against Tribu Sugbu, has been showing lately a glimpse of his father, ex-Crispa playmaker Willy Tanduyan.

Cavite coach Segundo "Bong" dela Cruz was upset with the way they let game one slip out from their hands.

"My players didn't follow my instructions during my last four time-outs. I challenged them to rise back from this defeat. It's a tall order but we're always trying to defy the odds," dela Cruz said.

True enough, Cavite has defied a lot of odds in their inaugural season with the league. Aside from dealing Ozamiz its first and only homecourt loss with an 85-75 win, the Insurers became the first team to post a 3-1 winning record in the south.

Marvin Ortiguerra, who is the most consistent player for Cavite, lead his team once anew and will try to get solid support from Jay-Ar Estrada, Christian Coronel, Arnold Booker and Melvin Mamaclay, who is still recuperating from a knee injury.

Ilanga will orchestrate Ozamiz' offense, which anchors on the inside presence of Christian Nicdao, Billy Bansil, Rulof Liangco and the outside shooting of gunner Melfred Sampilo.

Game three (if necessary) of the national finals of the tournament supported by Panasonic, Sulpicio Lines, Nature's Spring, Accel, Molten, Sunbolt Sportsdrink, Spring Cooking Oil, Far Eastern Insurance,

KSK Food Products (Boy Bawang), Skygo Motorcycles, Sirlitz, Happee Toothpaste, Dewfoam, Prime Channel, Bayview Park Hotel and Holiday Plaza Hotel-Cebu will be played tomorrow.

The individual awards will also be handed out today with Nicdao and Ortiguerra in a tight battle for the league's MVP while Valencia Golden Harvest's Eliazar Berami is a cinch to win the Rookie of the Year.