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| Cobra stings Misamis, tops Gensan leg (06/20/2010) |
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The Meteors caught the Ironmen flatfooted early with their dazzling run-and-gun plays, scoring the first 18 points of the game before coasting to a 47-23 lead with two minutes left before halftime. Just as everybody thought the Ironmen were already goners, the Asian Brewery franchise came charging back behind the power moves of Llgas and the sniping of Barua to post the biggest comeback win so far in the two-week tournament organized by the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) and Liga Pilipinas. The 6-foot-5 Llgas scored mostly off drop passes by former University of the East teammates Elmer Espiritu and Rudy Lingganay to help Cobra secure 10 points for winning the Gensan leg of the event backed by Air21, ANI-FCA, Ascof Lagundi, Molten, Burlington and Lhuillier Kwarta Padala, Basketball TV and Treston College. In all, Cobra accumulated 12 points to trail league-leader and first leg winner M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Cebu by three points in this tournament organized by the Philippine Basketball League and Liga Pilipinas. "Puso lang talaga nagdala sa amin para makahabol kami," said Cobra coach Lawrence Chongson. "I'm glad that they were able to respond even when we were down by a huge margin." Llagas came away with 18 points in the second half and overtime combined to finish with 20 points along with eight rebounds. JR Tecson added 14 points on a perfect 4-for-4 from rainbow country. Espiritu, who was adjudged as the Most Valuable Player of this leg after a superb showing, scored just six points but had seven assists and three blocks while Lingganay, the leg's Best Assists awardee, had seven points, nine rebounds and six assists. Barua and Tecson combined to hit six of the team's 10 treys in the fourth quarter alone as the Ironmen erased a 77-67 deficit with 2:59 to go to tie the game. Ronald Lamocha hit a putback, 23 ticks left to put MisOr back in the lead but Espiritu slid a pass to Llagas off big man Mark Andaya to even things up at 79-all and eventually force an extension. Patrick Cabahug, who played Cobra in the previous PBL conference, registered 19 points while Khiel Misa added 15 points in a losing cause. The Meteors collected seven points in this leg to tie idle Ascof Lagundi for third place in the standings. Earlier, host MP Pacman Gensan, despite the absence of playing team owner Manny Pacquiao, secured third place by beating Treston Laguna, 77-73. Former FEU slotman Christian Nicdao broke a 66-all tie with a three-pointer with 1:31 remaining. Action shifts at the Trace College gym in Los Banos, Laguna tomorrow as travel-weary teams Cobra and Laguna join Ascof Lagundi and the debuting Mandaue Landmasters for the tournament's third leg. "The way Cobra won this game showed what the Tournament of the Philippines is all about," said league Officer-In-Charge Perry Martinez. "It proved that youth can still prevail over experience and that what make the games exciting." The scores: First Game MP PACMAN GENSAN 77 - Parreno 19, Gonzaga 15, Daja 8, Medalla 8, Coronado 6, Farochilen 5, Nicado 4, Callo 4, Mendoza 3, Yambao 3, Sagad 2. TRESTON LAGUNA 73 - Ricafuente 18, Bolocon 14, Mercado 12, Sanz 12, Musni 8, Glorioso 4, Mangahas 3, Losentes 2, Datang 0, Grijaldo 0. Quarters: 22-17; 35-36; 56-51; 77-73. Second Game COBRA 92 - Llagas 20, Barua 20, Tecson 14, Bagatsing 11, Lingganay 7, Espiritu 6, Canizares 6, Nabong 4, Acuna 3, Afable 1, Simpson 0. MISOR 85 - Cabahug 19, Misa 15, Andaya 14, Daa 12, Raneses 10, Lamocha 8, Moreno 4, Tagupa 2, Butel 1, Saldua 0. Quarters: 12-24; 30-47; 50-68; 79-79 (reg); 92-85 (OT).
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GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Pari Llagas and PJ Barua scored 20 points each as Cobra Energy Drink recovered from a 24-point deficit to beat Misamis Oriental in overtime, 92-85, and rule the second leg of the Tournament of the Philippines Saturday at the Lagao gym here.
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