INQUIRER Sports

MAGNOLIA Purewater's resolve will be put to the test again today when the Wizards tangle with the Cobra Energy Drink Warriors at the start of their best-of-three quarterfinal series in the 2009 PBL PG Flex Unity Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

Despite an emphatic 75-63 victory over Licealiz on the last day of the eliminations Thursday, the Wizards wound up on the losing end of a three-way tie for the two outright semifinal berths.

But coach Koy Banal, whose boys could have qualified outright with a 16-point win over the Hair Doctors, readily welcomed the challenge of having to grind it out with the Energy Warriors.

?Even if it means we would have to go through the eye of the needle to achieve our goals, we will do it,? said Banal, whose team eventually lost in the tiebreak after Pharex defeated Oracle Residences, 85-69, Thursday night. ?We have to find a way to win.?

The duel is a rematch of last conference?s best-of-five semifinal series where the Wizards rallied from a 1-2 deficit to reach the finals.

The Energy Warriors are on a two-game slide, but their only win in the second round came at the expense of the Wizards, 67-65.

Still, Banal is confident heading into today?s clash after Al Magpayo came up with an impressive performance in his first game back from an ACL injury.

Magpayo?s 15 points, including three triples, and Eder Saldua?s solid play off the bench keyed the win over Licealiz, which earned the other outright semifinal berth.

Cobra coach Lawrence Chiongson will be pinning his hopes on Paul Lee, the 5-foot-11 guard, who won the top player plum in the last conference.

Elmer Espiritu and Parri Llagas are also expected to help the Energy Warriors? offense, after scoring 16 apiece in their second meeting against the Wizards.