Newcomer Excelroof forces rubber match

Pharex B Complex will have to wait for its finals opponent after rookie squad Excelroof forced a you-or-me showdown against seasoned-rival Cobra Energy Drink.

The 25ers displayed toughness against the Ironmen to pull-off an 89-81 decision in their PBL PG Flex-Erase Placenta Cup semifinal game on Saturday at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City. Five players of coach Renato Agustin scored in double figures but limiting their turnovers keyed Excelroof’s win as they stayed in the hunt for a finals berth in the season-opening conference. The 25ers’ six turnovers were the same recorded by Ateneo Pioneer in 2001 and the 1998 Harbour Centre squad. "Turnovers have been our problem. So I challenged my players to limit our turnovers. We already had seven turnovers in one of our games in the elimination round so I told them we can do it again," said Agustin. Aquino finished with 21 points while John Raymundo added 16 more to lead the 25ers’ scoring. Aquino and Raymundo even combined for 20 points in the fourth period as Excelroof survived the challenge put up by Cobra, which luckily holds a twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals. Aquino and Raymundo alternately punctured the hoops to counter Paul Lee’s three straight three-pointers to keep the Ironmen at bay. Lee’s two free throw had Cobra threatening at 70-69 but Raymundo sank two free throws and Aquino scored six straight in an 8-2 exchange to make it 78-71 entering the final two minutes of the contest. The Ironmen still managed to trim the deficit to four, 82-78, but the 25ers survived the rally as Ian Sangalang, Gilbert Bulawan, Aquino and Raymundo combined for 7-of-8 at the free throw line to secure the win for Excelroof. Lee had 29 points on 9-of-17 shooting while Pari Llagas and Patrick Cabahug finished with 18 and 15 markers. Lee, Llagas and Cabahug also combined for 14 errors. The three failed to get the ample support from their teammates as the entire Cobra bench combined for 19 points. Starting point guard Jai Reyes was a non factor in the game and was held scoreless on just two attempts from the field. – GMANews.TV