Pharex reaches PBL finals

MANILA, Philippines - Pharex leaned on another blazing windup to trample Licealiz, 78-71, and advance to the finals for the first time in the PBL PG Flex Unity Cup at the San Juan gym yesterday.

Ronnie Matias and Francis Allera hit back-to-back triples down the stretch as the Bidang Generix wrested the lead, 71-65, with a little over two minutes left in the contest.

Those treys highlighted Pharex’s decisive 16-6 windup that wiped out a 65-62 deficit midway in the final period to pound out the win.

The Pascual Laboratories franchise thus wrapped up its best-of-five semis series with Licealiz at 3-1. The Hair Doctors took the opener, 83-72, but the Bidang Generix swept the next three to assure themselves of their best finish since joining the league two years ago.

Pharex’s previous best showing in three conferences was a quarterfinal finish last conference.

Pharex will meet either Oracle Residences or Cobra Energy Drink in a best-of-five title showdown starting Tuesday.

“We always tried to improve and stuck with the same players every conference and finally our hardwork paid off,” said Pharex coach Carlo Tan.

Allera topscored for Pharex with 17 points, including three triples. Four other Pharex players scored in double figures to underscore Pharex’s balanced offensive sock.

Kojack Melegrito came off the bench to shoot 14 points while Matias finished with 13 points and seven rebounds in 19 minutes of action.

Ian Saladaga had 10 of his 11 points in the first half while Fil-Am Chris Ross made 10 points, five rebounds and eight assists despite shooting 2-of-10 from the floor.

Pharex posted its biggest lead at 11 points, 47-36, on a basket by Matias with 8:31 remaining in the third period.

Meantime, Cobra forced a winner-take-all match for the other finals berth after stunning Oracle Residences, 88-80, in the second game.

Paul Lee fired a career-high 30 points and hauled down seven rebounds and made eight assists while Patrick Cabahug and Pari Llagas added 20 and 16 points, respectively, as the Energy Warriors tied the series at 2-2.

Cobra fell behind, 63-69, but Lee, Cabahug and Llagas took over and combined in a big 21-7 run as the Energy Warriors grabbed an 84-76 lead with 1:54 to go en route to the victory.