GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Boxing icon and team owner Manny Pacquiao scored only four points but it was enough to inspire MP Pacman Gensan Warriors to an impressive win over Treston-Laguna at the start of the second leg of the Tournament of the Philippines (TOP) Wednesday at the Lagao gym here.

Banking on their solid defensive effort, the Warriors outlasted the Stallions, 73-69, to move within a win of clinching a finals berth in the short elimination round of the tournament jointly organized by the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) and Liga Pilipinas.

Also getting off to a fine start was Cobra Energy Drink which nipped Misamis Oriental, 70-69, behind the exploits of former University of the East stars Elmer Espiritu and Rudy Lingganay.

Wearing a Michael Jordan-inspired Nike shoes, Pacquiao created a fiesta-like atmosphere when he started out for the host squad. And the excitement continued to build each time he touched the ball where fans, as if on cue, screamed “Shoot! Shoot! Shoot”.

It was not a perfect debut for the boxing star as he made only two of 12 tries from the field in 14 minutes but his presence was enough to provide a top class entertainment to his “kababayans”.

Both winners were playing as of presstime, trying to move one step closer to a spot in the leg finals of this joint venture between the Philippine Basketball League and Liga Pilipinas.

John Gonzaga also starred for the Gensan as he fired 10 of his game-high 20 points in the payoff period even as the Warriors held the Stallions to just three points or a single field goal in the final five minutes to secure the win.

"I'm happy na naka-contribute siya sa fourth quarter at nakapanalo na rin kami after a long while," said coach Fean del Rosario, whose team won its first game since September.

Meanwhile, Espiritu and Lingganay conspired to lead Cobra back from two nine-point deficits to stun the Meteors, the runner-up of the Liga Pilipinas Conference III.

Espiritu, who finished with 20 points, seven rebounds, three steals and four blocks, hit two foul shots with three minutes left to put the Ironmen ahead 68-67 and then made a huge block on Neil Raneses later on.

Lingganay also hit both foul shots with 1:44 to go to extend the lead to three (70-67) but Patrick Cabahug, who played for Cobra in the three previous PBL conferences, cut the deficit to a point with 40 seconds left.

After a defensive stop, Cabahug had a chance to beat his former team but muffed a fadeaway shot against three defenders on the last possession of the game as the Ironmen wound up celebrating the win by throwing dozens of souvenirs into the crowd.

"Despite falling behind, we showed feistiness and resiliency to win this game," said Cobra coach Lawrence Chongson.

The scores:

First Game

COBRA 70 - Espiritu 20, Lingganay 13, Simpson 8, Canizares 7, Acuna 6, Llagas 6, Bagatsing 4, Tecson 2, Barua 2, Afable 2, Nabong 0.

MISOR 69 - Raneses 24, Daa 8, Cabahug 7, Misa 6, Lamocha 6, Saldua 4, Andaya 4, Taganas 4, Moreno 3, Lucernas 3, Tagupa 0, Munoz 0, Morial 0, Butel 0.

Quarters: 19-17; 35-39; 51-57; 70-69.

Second Game

GENSAN 73 - Gonzaga 20, Nicdao 12, Mendoza 12, Yambao 8, Medalla 6, Sagad 4, Daja 4, Pacquiao 4, Farochilen 3, Callo 0, Parreno 0, Coronado 0.

TRESTON LAGUNA 69 - Ricafuerte 17, Bolocon 11, Mercado 11, Glorioso 8, Losentes 8, Mangahas 5, Sanz 4, Musni 3, Capati 2, Grijaldo 0, Angeles 0.

Quarters: 17-17; 36-35; 52-55; 73-69.