INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines—Struggling for most of the conference and ranged against teams with better records, Toyota Otis and Burger King pulled off a couple of upsets Thursday in the PBL PG Flex Linoleum Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The Toyota Otis Sparks, playing with precision and better cohesion that they lacked for most of the tournament, thoroughly dominated the Magnolia Purewater Wizards, 95-75.

Earlier, the Burger King Whoppers drew sizzling performances from Ogie Menor and Mac Baracael to whip Hapee Toothpaste, 72-59.

“We needed this shot in the arm,” Toyota Otis coach Ariel Vanguardia said.

“We were able to get our confidence to play in a high level by playing (PBA semifinalist) Alaska. I have to thank coach Tim (Cone) and coach Joel (Banal) for that.”

Erick Rodriguez banged in 22 points, including 17 in the first half, as the Sparks pounced on a Magnolia squad that played top scorers Neil Raneses, Dylan Ababou and Eder Saldua sparingly.

Despite dropping to 7-4, the Wizards are already assured of the second semifinal berth.

Toughened by their experience with the national developmental team, Menor and Baracael combined for 38 points to help boost the Stunners to only their fourth win in 11 games.

“We had a badly depleted lineup, so this win is good for us,” said Stunners coach Alan Gregorio. “We focused on the small picture today, forgot our losses. Moving on was the key.”

Menor pumped in a PBL career-high of 21 points built on 10-of-17 shooting.

The Stunners seized control in the second quarter by holding the enemy to four points.

Hapee hardly showed the urgency to turn things around, except for a brief flurry in the fourth period when they slashed a 23-point deficit to 10 with 2:15 remaining.

But a couple of short jumpers from Menor sealed the deal for the Stunners, who missed key players Abby Santos, Nestor David, Khiel Misa and Jason Ballesteros.

Santos and Ballesteros were nursing injuries, while David and Misa were back with the Smart Pampanga Buddies in the Liga Pilipinas.

Baracael fired eight of his 17 points in the first half where he joined hands with Jayson Nocom to give the Stunners a 33-21 lead.

Hapee was limited to just seven field goals in the first half in a horrendous 28 percent shooting clip.

The scores:

First Game

BURGER KING 72—Menor 21, Baracael 17, Nocom 15, Taganas 8, Gamalinda 4, Luanzon 3, Arellano 2, Pascual 2, Tecson 0.

HAPEE 59—Cruz 16, Vanlandingham 12, Daa 12, Morial 7, Grijaldo 4, Saguindel 2, Convento 2, Viray 2, Hugnatan 2, Espiritu 0, Lucernas 0.

Quarters: 15-19, 31-23, 56-33, 72-59

Second Game

TOYOTA OTIS 95—Rodriguez 22, Timberlake 14, Wilson 14, Sena 10, Jazul 10, Casio 9, Faundo 8, Mangahas 6, Walsham 2.

MAGNOLIA 75—Saldua 13, Rodriguez 11, Losentes 11, Amparado 8, Ababou 7, Taylor 7, Raneses 6, Sorongon 4, Escueta 2, Uichico 2, Gile 2, Magpayo 2, Balneg 0.

Quarters: 24-17, 49-41, 72-60, 95-75