Excelroof, Cobra seek lead share

MANILA, Philippines - Cobra and Excelroof take on a pair of struggling rivals, confident of pulling through and keeping abreast with joint leaders Pharex-B and Cossack in the PBL PG Flex Erase Placenta Cup at The Arena in San Juan City today.

The Ironmen collide with the Ascof Lagundi Cough Busters at 4 p.m. while the 25ers battle the Fern-C Ferntastics at 2 p.m. with both teams hopeful of notching their fourth victories in five games for a share of the lead.

Cobra, which snatched a 66-65 win over Excelroof last week, is fancied to get past Ascof Lagundi, which is still reeling from an 89-103 defeat to sister team Pharex last Feb. 27.

Fern-C and Ascof tote identical 1-3 cards.

The four teams after the single round elims will advance to the semis with the top two placers earning a twice-to-beat privilege in the Final Four of the season-opening tournament.

The Cough Busters have the height advantage over the Ironmen but the latter boasts of a formidable backcourt crew in Ateneo’s Jai Reyes, Mapua’s Allan Mangahas, University of the East’s Paul Lee and Patrick Cabahug.