INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - Pharex tries to sustain its impressive form today when the Bidang Generix and the Oracle Residences Titans break their tie in Game 3 of the best-of-five PBL PG Flex Unity Cup title series at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The Bidang Generix scored a convincing 81-72 victory in Game 2 Thursday, after the Titans, who are gunning for a seventh straight crown, won the opener, 79-73.

Game time is set at 3 p.m. shortly after Pharex guard Chris Ross receives the Most Valuable Player award for the season.

Ross? performance, it seems, has dictated Pharex?s fortunes in the series.

Feeling the ill-effects of a flu, the 6-foot-1 guard out of Marshall University struggled in the Game 1 loss with just eight points. But he bounced back with a stellar all-around effort of 11 points, nine rebounds and eight assists to power Pharex, which is in search of its first league crown, in Game 2.

If Game 2, which featured seven technical fouls, was a portent of things to come, another bruising encounter is expected Saturday.

?It?s going to be brutal just like this game,? said Pharex coach Carlo Tan after winning Game 2. ?We?re prepared for it.?

Oracle coach Glenn Capacio will continue to miss the RP Team quartet of Mark Barroca, Aldrech Ramos, Mac Baracael and JR Cawaling.

The Titans groped for form early on and in crunchtime without Barroca in Game 2.

?We told the boys to forget about Game 2 and just stay focused in winning Game 3,? said Arejola. ?We have the legacy to protect.?

Bench scoring was also a key factor for Pharex in Game 2 with the Bidang Generix reserves accounting for 33 points, a 28-point improvement from Game 1.

While Ian Saladaga and Ronnie Matias have been steady in the series, Don Villamin and Joshua Urbiztondo surprised the Titans in Game 2 by combining for 25 points.

Oracle?s Rico Maierhofer, who scored six points and grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds in Game 2, and Jerwin Gaco will spearhead the Titans? bid, along with Chris Timberlake.