Serbia-trained Dylan lifts Wizards over Generix

MANILA, Philippines - Three days were enough for Dylan Ababou to get into the groove as he powered Magnolia Purewater to an 82-75 win over Pharex at the start of the 2009 PBL PG Flex Unity Cup at the San Juan gym.

The 6-foot-4 Ababou, a member of the Philippine team that underwent a three-week training in Serbia, sizzled with 20 points, including a booming three-point shot at the crucial stage of the game, to help jumpstart the title bid of Wizards in the season-ending tournament.

“He’s really a great help to the team and his foreign training made him even more dangerous,” said coach Koy Banal of his prized forward who finished with an impressive 9-of-15 shooting from the field.

Ababou also shone on the defensive end – one of the reasons why the Bidang Generix were held to 1-of-8 shooting in the last 3:55 of the game.

“I just told the boys to be ready since the classification round is very short. Every game counts, so I also told them to give their all and they responded well,” added Banal, who is hoping to end the team’s three-year title drought.

The last time Magnolia won a title was during the time of Kelly Williams and Arwind Santos when they rallied from a 0-2 deficit to beat Welcoat Paints and win their second title since rejoining the league in 2003.

“This is a good win. We have to make use of Dylan’s presence before the Philippine team leaves again,” said Banal.

Ababou and the rest of the RP team members in the league are set to leave for Las Vegas on Sunday to compete in a pocket tournament.

The Wizards also gained big boost from veteran Neil Raneses and new recruit Marcy Arellano.

The 6-foot-4 Raneses, one of the seniors in the league, produced a double-double with 19 points and 11 boards while Arellano had 10 points and four assists.

Back-to-back baskets by Raneses sealed Magnolia’s win, 80-73, with only 21.7 ticks left.

After a tight first half action, the Wizards came through with several spurts that saw them take a 14-point lead, 62-48.

The Bidang Generix, starring Alfred Gerilla, Ronnie Matias and Chris Ross, managed to cut the deficit to 72-73, but it proved to be their last gallant stand as they fell into poor shot selection – no thanks to Magnolia’s hard-nosed defense.

The Bidang Generix were partly to be blamed for their defeat as they lost their patience in the third quarter where they opted to play one-on-one most of the time.

Oracle Residences, formerly Harbour Centre, also opened its bid in the tourney on a winning note, blasting Licealiz, 73-64, in the second game.

Mark Barroca, also a member of the RP developmental team that had a two-week training in Serbia, made a game-high 17 points with Rico Maierhofer and Edwin Asoro adding 15 and 13 apiece for the Titans who played well in their first game under new coach Glen Capacio.