25ers, Spirits dispute 2nd semis berth

MANILA, Philippines - Excelroof and Cossack Blue clash today for the second semifinal berth while fancied Cobra Energy Drink hopes to bounce back from a stinging setback the last time out as it takes on also-ran Ani-FCA in the PBL PG Flex-Erase Placenta Cup at the Emilio Aguinaldo College gym in Manila.

Tied for second with 4-1 slates, the Excelroof 25ers and the Cossack Spirits slug it out in the 1:15 p.m. opener with the winner joining Pharex B in the Final Four.

Pharex B-Complex clinched the first semis berth by edging AddMix, 86-83, for a 5-1 mark.

Cobra, meanwhile, battles Ani-FCA at 3:15 p.m. with the Ironmen, reeling from a 71-74 loss to Ascof Lagundi last Tuesday, fancied to notch their fourth win in six games.

Ateneo star Jai Reyes, UE’s top gun Paul Lee and former UAAP scoring champion Patrick Cabahug are again expected to lead the Ironmen, who are hard-pressed to win their last two games in the elims, including one against Fern-C on Thursday, to gain a shot at the twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four.

Although they are out of the race with a 0-5 card, the Ani-FCA Cultivators are going all out for a victory against the Ironmen.

Excelroof, which scored an 87-83 win over Fern-C last Tuesday, will again lean on Calvin Abueva and Jimbo Aquino as they try to formalize their entry to the next round.

The Spirits, on the other hand, are coming off a 66-96 defeat to the Pharex Fighting Maroons last Saturday with main man James Martinez raring to atone for his mediocre performance the last time out.

Martinez groped for form against Pharex, finishing with just nine points after averaging 20 points.