Pharex five ousts Cobra, gains quarterfinals

Photo by Nuki Sabio, PBA

MANILA—Pharex found the perfect time to snap its four-game slide in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup.

The Bidang Generix stunned the Cobra Ironmen with a 96-66 rout in their knockout match on Tuesday to complete the quarterfinal cast at the end of the first round of the playoffs at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Edwin Asoro and James Mangahas came through early for the Bidang Generix, who jumped to a 17-point advantage, 44-27, in the first half and never looked back.

“The game plan against Paul Lee was executed perfectly, that gave us a chance,” said Pharex coach Carlo Tan. “I don’t think we can shut down Paul Lee, but the game plan was to reduce his efficiency. Offensively, we also had a better flow and our ball movement was excellent.”

Pharex, though, will quickly plunge back into action against PC Gilmore at the start of the quarterfinals on Thursday, at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

FCA also arranged a quarterfinal duel with the favored NLEX next week after rallying past RnW Pacific Pipes, 65-61, in the first game.

Raffy Reyes knocked in a key triple with two minutes left to push the Cultivators ahead, 62-60, after trailing by as many as 13 points, 36-49, in the third period.

“We were playing too tight,” said FCA coach Arsenio Dysangco. “But our hard work paid off. We didn’t give up even if we were playing so bad. We continued playing through despite our poor offense.”

The Cultivators held Pacific to just a point in the closing minutes as Alex Mallari, who top-scored with 12 markers, also scored on a drive with 13.8 seconds left to cushion FCA’s lead.

Reyes finished with 11 points, while Richard Cole and Jessie Collado combined for 17.

The Ironmen, who even had a shot at nailing an outright quarterfinal berth two weeks ago, still had Lee scoring 19 points but other key cogs like Paul Sanga only had four.

“Our effort was there right from the start,” said Tan of his Generix, who hit an alarming skid late in the classification phase.

The scores:
First Game

FCA 65 — Mallari 12, Reyes 11, Cole 9, Collado 8, Gerilla 7, Canlas 7, Co 3, Custodio 3, Bulawan 2, Maconocido 2, Pascual 1, Sevilla 0.

PACIFIC PIPES 61 — Manuel 20, Viray 12, Leynes 8, Delgado 7, Ilagan 4, Importante 4, Cornejo 3, Del Rio 2, Musni 1, Tirona 0.

Quarters: 18-13, 30-34, 49-52, 65-61

Second Game
PHAREX 96 — Mangahas 17, Asoro 14, Aguilar 14, Viernes 9, Taylor 9, Adolfo 8, Banal 7, Morial 6, Cabonce 6, Losentes 3, Siruma 3, Tecson 0, Montilla 0, Graebel 0.

COBRA 66 — Lee 19, Acibar 12, Bandaying 10, Hermosisima 8, Boloran 7, Foronda 4, Sanga 4, Rosopa 2, Mendoza 0, Raypon 0, Reyes 0, Eguilos 0.

Quarters: 25-18, 36-30, 71-47, 96-66