Pharex, Excelroof start title series

MANILA, Philippines - Pharex B-Complex and Excelroof, both looking to claim a Cinderella tale, start their titular showdown in the PBL PG Flex Placenta Cup today at The Arena in San Juan.

The Pharex Fighting Maroons and the Excelroof 25ers clash at 3 p.m. disputing the decisive one-zero lead in the short best-of-three series.

Top seed Pharex made the finals by downing Cossack Blue, 96-83, last Saturday then Excelroof followed suit in beating second-ranked Cobra Energy Drink two games in a row.

Both now have a chance to become the first team in a long while to win a crown in its debut stint in the PBL.

The protagonists foresee a tight series with both teams boasting of lineup with firepower, character and balance.

“It’s going to be a tight battle. We have the players who can compete with Pharex,” said Excelroof coach Ato Agustin.

“If we can sustain our intensity, play with passion and heart then we have a good chance of going all the way to win the tourney,” said Pharex coach Aboy Castro.

Castro and his troops set out for the finale riding the momentum of a six-game roll dating back to the elimination round.

The core of the Excelroof team, meanwhile, is on championship run, having ruled the 2009 NCAA tourney then the CHED Games.

Agustin, however, stressed collegiate play is different from that of the PBL.

“We have to make adjustments since this is a different level, but I’m confident my boys can deliver,” said Agustin.

NCAA Finals MVP Jimbo Aquino, 6-foot-6 center Ian Sangalang, Pamboy Raymundo and Calvin Abueva are expected to lead the Excelroof charge. Agustin can also count on veteran Chester Taylor, Ronald Pascual and Gilbert Bulawan.

Castro, meanwhile, has at his disposal do-it-all 6-foot-4 forward Vic Manuel.

Quick and deadly with his jumpers, Manuel, a PSBA product, is the team’s No. 1 scorer, averaging more than 20 points a game. He had a career-tying 27 points in the team’s victory over Cossack Blue last Saturday.