Titans stride to final vs Generix

MANILA, Philippines – RP training team mainstay Mark Barroca marked his return to Oracle Residences with a fiery 30-point performance, and the Titans clobbered the Cobra Energy Warriors, 97-77, to gain the right to challenge the Pharex Bidang Generix in the finale of the 2009 PBL PG Flex Unity Cup at the Emilio Aguinaldo College gym.

The Titans and the Generix slug it out in a best-of-five championship series beginning with Game One at 3 p.m. at the San Juan gym tomorrow.

Barroca dished out a huge game in his return from a stint with RP Smart Gilas in the FIBA-Asia Champions Cup, engaging Paul Lee in a torrid shootout and having the last laugh as the Titans checked a two-game skid, giving the Mikee Romero franchise a shot at a seventh straight PBL crown.

Aldrech Ramos, JR Cawaling and Mac Baracael had their contributions also coming from a stint with the RP training team in the Jakarta tournament.

Cobra coach Lawrence Chongson had said he’s not afraid of their comeback, optimistic they can handle Barroca and company with the Energy Warriors riding the momentum of victories in Games Three and Four.

But Barroca made his presence felt right away and the Titans stamped their class on the Energy Warriors, pulling off the rout on decisive attacks in the final half.

The 5-foot-10 Barroca, a heady point guard from Far Eastern U, stood out with 30 points that went with eight rebounds, three steals and two assists.

“It was a tough series and Mark (Barroca) spelled the difference for us,” said Oracle coach Glenn Capacio.

“Of course, it was not only Mark who played well. Everybody contributed to the cause,” added Capacio, figuring in the finals in his first tourney as head coach in the league.

Veterans Rico Maierhofer and Jerwin Gaco produced double-double numbers with the former putting in 14 points and 11 rebounds and the latter getting 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Lee came through with 29 points but was contained by the Titans in the payoff period.

Barroca, on the other hand, was steady throughout, firing 10 points to help the Titans open a 71-59 lead in the third quarter.

As the Titans stretched their lead to 84-68 in the fourth quarter, coach Capacio opted to rest Barroca in the last five minutes of play.

The Energy Warriors engaged the Titans in a battle in the first half but slowly faded away in the third period.