Excel, Cossack draw first blood

MANILA, Philippines - Newcomer Excel Roof came away with a stunning 82-73 victory over title-favorite Ascof Lagundi, making quite an impact right at the start of the PBL PG Flex-Erase Placenta Cup at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

Bannered by members of the NCAA champion San Sebastian squad, the 25ers stymied the Cough Busters with a stifling defense then leaned on the troika of Jimbo Aquino, Calvin Abueva and Ronald Pascual in the clutch to fashion out the victory against a team that finished runner-up in the Unity Cup last year.

Aquino, the NCAA Finals MVP, paced Excel Roof with 17 points while Abueva and Pascual tossed in 13 and 11 points, respectively.

Two other 25ers churned out double digit outputs as Gilbert Bulawan also scored 11 points and John Raymundo finished with 10 to underscore the team’s balanced offensive sock.

In the other game, Cossack Blue leaned on the 13-point, 17-rebound effort of former San Beda standout Jay-R Taganas as it edged Fern-C, 81-77.

Excel Roof also used its quickness and played with a lot of spunk and hustle to dominate their rivals off the boards, 53-35, that set up a series of fastbreak plays for the 25ers.

Raymundo also pulled down 11 rebounds, becoming the first guard in the season-opening tournament to produce double-double game. He also made five assists in 21 minutes of action.

“The PBL is a totally different level than the NCAA and the collegiate leagues and it’s about speed and physical game,” said Excel Roof coach and SSC mentor Ato Agustin, who played for YCO and Swift in the then PABL in the 80s.

“So we came into this game ready to play tough defense,” he said.

Ex-FEU center JR Gerilla led Ascof with 13 points while former UST Growling Tiger Marc Canlas added 11 points on 5-of-11 shooting.

Ascof Lagundi fell back late in the second quarter as Abueva lead the 25ers’ charge en route to a 40-32 lead at the half.

Two consecutive fastbreaks by Gerilla tied the score at 45 with 7:20 in the third period but Aquino hit one of his two triples while Abueva scored inside off a foul by Richard Cole with 1:32 left for a 64-55 Excel Roof lead.

Pascual later put the 25ers in front by 10 points with a three-pointer for a 78-68 lead with 2:14 remaining in the final period while Abueva scored on a drive to post the team’s biggest lead at 80-69 with 90 seconds left in the contest.