INQUIRER Sports

GAMES SATURDAY (Ynares Sports Arena, Pasig)
2 p.m.?Pharex B Complex vs Cossack
4 p.m.?Cobra Energy vs Excelroof

MANILA, Philippines?Cobra Energy Drink took care of business Thursday and, with an unlikely lift from AddMix, clinched the No. 2 seed in the semifinals of the PBL-PG Flex Erase Placenta Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Patrick Cabahug, Paul Lee and Pari Llagas shone as Cobra weathered Fern-C?s late surge for an 88-82 decision that gave the Ironmen a twice-to-beat incentive against Excelroof in the Final Four.

The already-eliminated Add-Mix Transformers posted an 88-53 victory over a surprisingly lethargic Cossack Blue squad, which was already assured of a semifinal berth regardless of the outcome of the game.

Cossack?s loss boosted the Ironmen past the 25ers, who also finished the elimination round with a 5-2 slate, but fell to third because they lost their only game with Cobra.

Cossack could have clinched third spot with a victory over Add-Mix while relegating its sister team Cobra to fourth.

But the Spirits fell behind early and came out with little fire in the second half. The loss was their third straight and their most lopsided in the tournament after a 4-0 start.

The Spirits will face top seed Pharex B Complex, which will have a twice-to-beat advantage, in the semifinals starting Saturday.

Like Pharex, Cobra also needs just one victory over Excelroof to claim its place in the finals.

Llagas and Cabahug buried clutch baskets to quell a late run that brought the Ferntastics within 82-87 in the final 30 seconds after trailing by 17 early in the fourth period.

?It was a struggle but we got here somehow,? said Cobra coach Lawrence Chongson.

?Our play leaves so much to be desired. I?m still trying to find the answers, the right combinations. We?re winning by small margins, but I?ll have to take it.?

Cabahug finished with 25 points on 4-of-6 shooting beyond the arc, while Llagas had 20 points and 14 rebounds. Cabahug, Llagas and Lee actually combined for 18 of the Ironmen?s 21 points in the fourth quarter.

The Ironmen clamped down on John Wilson, who was held to a tournament-low 12 points.

Gio Ciriacruz spearheaded a well-balanced charge with 12 points for the Transformers, who wound up sixth with a 3-4 record.

The scores:

First Game

COBRA 88?Cabahug 25, Lee 20, Llagas 20, Sarangay 12, Reyes 7, Mangahas 4, Hayes 0, Torres 0, Barua 0.

FERN-C 82?Escueta 18, Dizon 17, Wilson 12, Evangelista 12, Miranda 10, Espiritu 5, Co 3, Walsham 2, Tanuan 2, Maconocido 1, Maurillo 0, Semira 0.

Quarters: 24-14, 39-31, 67-52, 88-82

Second Game

ADDMIX 88?Ciriacruz 12, Nuyles 11, Morial 11, Margallo 10, Canada 8, Lozada 6, Ynion 6, Galinato 6, Alvarez 5, Amparado 5, Colina 4, Guillermo 2, Cubo 2, Basilio 0.

COSSACK BLUE 53?Martinez 13, Zamar 8, Reyes 6, Saguindel 6, Simpson 5, Etrone 4, Taganas 4, Afable 2, Duran 2, Morillo 2, Flores 1, Noble 0.

Quarters: 16-11, 34-26, 66-40, 88-53