Crippled Titans stay unscathed

MANILA, Philippines – Oracle Residences bucked the absence of top gun Mark Barroca and two other members of the national team as it waylaid Magnolia Purewater, 74-63, yesterday to sweep the first round of action in the 2009 PBL PG Flex Cup at the San Juan Gym.

Edwin Asoro took charge and fired 17 points while John Wilson, Benedict Fernandez and Fil-Am Chris Timberlake tossed in 12, 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the Titans, who hardly missed the absence of Barroca, JR Cawaling and Aldrech Ramos, who were with the Smart Gilas Pilipinas squad currently training in the United States.

The Titans rode on a big fourth quarter run to put away the Wizards’ challenge and record their fourth straight victory in the lean five-team field.

Magnolia, which fell to 1-2, fought Oracle on even terms in the first two quarters and trailed by just six, 49-55, at the end of the third. But the Titans came up with a 17-3 run in the fourth to pull away to victory.

Earlier, Pharex bounced back from back-to-back setbacks as it squeaked past Cobra Energy Drink, 71-69.

Fil-Am Chris Ross, the season’s top rookie pick, fired seven of his 24 points in the fourth quarter as the Bidang Generix rallied from a six-point deficit in the third period to turn back the Energy Warriors.

Ross also came away with eight rebounds, five assists and two steals.

“Sometimes it’s tough preserving the lead. But at least we were able to hold on this time,” said Pharex coach Carlo Tan, whose wards blew a 15-point lead and lost to the Oracle Titans last Saturday.

Elmer Espiritu, playing against his former team, made 10 points in the second half but failed to save the Energy Warriors from absorbing their second loss against a win.

The Generix took control in the early going and raced to an 11-point lead in the second quarter only to sputter in the third.

A 21-8 Pharez blitz capped by a Ross tip-in shoved the Bidang Generix to a 70-65 lead going into the last 1:32 of the contest.

But Jan Colina and Patrick Cabahug made two quick baskets as Cobra closed to within, 69-70, with 25.4 seconds remaining.

Alfred Gerilla split his charities on the other end and the Generix clinced the victory as Cabahug misfired at the buzzer.