Odds on Titans, Hair Doctors in semis today

MANILA, Philippines – Oracle Residences takes on Cobra today while Licealiz battles Pharex in a pair of duels kicking off the semifinal series of the PBL PG Flex Unity Cup at the San Juan gym.

The Titans, who dominated the early going of the double-round classification phase, beat the Energy Warriors twice in the tournament and are expected to reassert their mastery in the 2 p.m. opener.

But the Energy Warriors are ready to come out strong against their top-seeded rivals following their own version of a sweep of the Magnolia Wizards to claim the last semis slot.

Licealiz, the No. 2 team in the classification round, collides with Pharex at 4 p.m. with the Hair Doctors likewise out to re-stamp their class over the Bidang Generix.

Meanwhile, the Oracle-Cobra match will be aired at 3 p.m. on CS9 while the Licealiz-Pharex tiff will be shown on Basketball TV from 6 p.m.

While Oracle is wary of Cobra’s speed and shooting prowess, coach Glen Capacio hopes to use their height advantage to the hilt against the Energy Warriors.

Rico Maierhofer and Edwin Asoro, along with Chris Timberlake, John Wilson and Benedict Fernandez, will be out to prove they can carry the Titans even without RP team members Mark Barroca, Mac Baracael and Aldrech Ramos who are with the RP team in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The Hair Doctors also defeated the Bidang Generix twice this conference but the Lamoiyan franchise is tipped to encounter stiff resistance from the Pascual Laboratories-owned squad.

Pharex secured the third semis berth with big wins over Magnolia and Oracle.

Expected to spearhead Pharex’s charge are Ian Saladaga, Chris Ross, Ronnie Matias, JR Gerilla and Francis Allera while Licealiz coach Egay Macaraya will lean on MVP contender Jervy Cruz, Josh Vanlandingham, James Sena, Lance Convento and Dino Daa.