Excelroof, Cobra duel for second finals berth

MANILA, Philippines - Excelroof and Cobra Energy Drink collide today in a knockout match for the right to face Pharex-B in the finals of the PBL PG Flex Erase Placenta Cup at the San Juan City gym.

The lone game is set at 3 p.m. with the 25ers hoping to sustain the momentum of their big 89-81 victory over the Ironmen in their Final Four clash last Saturday.

The Ironmen and 25ers finished the single-round elims with similar 5-2 records but the former took the No. 2 spot and the twice-to-beat edge in the semis on the winner-over-the-other rule. Cobra nipped Excelroof, 66-65, in the elims.

But Excelroof dished out a gem of a game over the weekend to frustrate Cobra and force the winner-take-all match.

Pharex-B, the elims topnotcher, copped the first finals berth by trouncing Cossack Blue, 96-83.

Game One of the best-of-three finals starts on Thursday at The Arena in San Juan City.

The 25ers enjoy a big psychological advantage over the Ironmen but Excelroof coach Ato Agustin remains wary of their rivals.

“I’m sure it’s going to be a tough game for us again. That’s why I have to watch the video tape of our game in order improve our plays,” said Agustin, whose crew is made up of his San Sebastian players in the NCAA.

Cobra, on the other hand, is a combination of the stars from various teams in the UAAP, headed by UE’s Paul Lee, former UAAP scoring champion Patrick Cabahug, Pari Llagas, also of UE, and ex-Ateneo star Jai Reyes.

Agustin’s other concern is the team’s free throw shooting.

“That’s one aspect that we have to improve. We have no problem if our knockout game would be a physical one since my boys are already used to it,” said Agustin, whose wards had a woeful 10-of-33 shooting from the line.

Others expected to step up for Excelroof are Jimbo Aquino, Pamboy Raymundo, Ronald Pascual, Chester Taylor and the high-leaping Calvin Abueva.

Llagas and Cabahug wound up with 18 and 15 points, respectively, for Cobra but they were hardly a factor at crunch time, while Reyes was held scoreless by the tough Excelroof defense.