Magnolia, Burger King seek share of top spot

Burger King and Magnolia Pure Water gun for their second straight win and a share of the lead with idle Harbour Centre as they square off with separate rivals today in the 2009 PBL PG-Flex Linoleum Cup at the Emilio Aguinaldo College gym on Taft Ave.

The Whoppers squandered a 14-point lead and had to go through a wringer to repulse the Bacchus Energy side in overtime, 83-79, last Thursday. They play the Hapee Complete Protectors at 2 p.m.

The Wizards also needed an extra five minutes to thwart the Pharex Generix, 88-80, also last Thursday, hoping to keep the momentum as they take on the Toyota Otis Sparks at 4 p.m.

Hapee and Toyota dropped their opening day assignments with the former losing to Bacchus, 84-88, and the latter bowing to Harbour Centre, 93-98.

“We’ll just try to keep the momentum,” said Burger King coach Allan Gregorio, who is expected to pin his hopes again on Ogie Menor and Marcy Arellano against their Hapee rivals.

Magnolia coach Koy Banal, on the other hand, hopes another Wizard will step up the way reserve point guard Yuri Escueta did in the Wizards’ victory over the Generix.

Escueta, the 5-foot-10 playmaker from Ateneo, finished with 10 points, five rebounds and five steals as he led Magnolia’s big fightback in the second half.

“Every game is different, so we’re always on the lookout for someone who will step up for us,” Banal said.

But the Sparks are raring to bounce back from their setback together with the Complete Protectors, promising another weekend thriller in the country’s premier amateur league.