Pharex, Cobra try to set up title duel

MANILA, Philippines - Pharex B-Complex and Cobra Energy Drink hope to make full use of their twice-to-beat advantages as they go for the finals berths against Cossack Blue and Excelroof in the Final Four of the PBL PG Flex-Erase Placenta Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The Pharex Fighting Maroons take on the Spirits at 1:45 p.m. while the Ironmen of UE coaches Lawrence Chongson and Mark Herrera battle the 25ers in the 3:45 p.m. encounter, needing just a victory to arrange a best-of-three showdown for this year’s championshio.

Pharex, which gained the top seeding by topping the eight-team, single-round elims with a 6-1 mark, is fancied over Cossack and is expected to use its deep bench and ride on its momentum to put away the challenge of the James Martines-led Cossack squad.

The Fighting Maroons, led by Vic Manuel and former Ateneo star Ford Arao, toppled the 25ers, 74-68, last Tuesday to post the longest win run at five in the league. Others expected to step up for Pharex are former Rookie of the Year Woody Co, Mark Lopez and veteran Marlon Adolfo.

Cobra and Excelroof finished tied for second wth 5-2 slates but the Ironmen took the No. 2 slot plus the semis incentive due to the winner-over-the-other rule.

With Patrick Cabahug delivering the goods in the dying seconds, the Ironmen nipped the 25ers, 66-65, last March 4.

The former UAAP scoring champion is again tipped to spearhead the Ironmen’s bid along with UE’s Paul Lee and Parri Llagas and former Ateneo guard Jai Reyes.

The 6-foot-2 Cabahug, who played for Adamson for three years, led Cobra for the third straight time when he tallied 25 points in the team’s semis-clinching 88-82 win over Fern-C last Thursday.

But coach Lawrence Chongson is not relying solely on Cabahug since Reyes, Llagas and especially Lee can score at any given time and situation.

Still, the Ironmen will have to go through the proverbial eye of the needle before dispatching the 25ers since the Ato Agustin-mentored squad is not only itching to get back at Cobra but also raring to get a shot at the crown.

“Our play still needs so much to be desired. I don’t know how but I’m trying to work on it,” said Chongson.

But for Excelroof to prevail, it has to bring the best out of NCAA Finals MVP Jimbo Aquino, who has been playing inconsistently of late.

Agustin must not just stick to his San Sebastian players like Aquino, Calvin Abueva, Pamboy Raymundo and Gilbert Bulawan since the other members of the squad, especially veteran Chester Taylor, can provide the needed firepower given extended playing time.