Cobra stings Misamis, rules GenSan TOP leg

MANILA, Philippines - Pari Llagas and PJ Barua scored 20 points each as Cobra Energy Drink battled back from a 24-point deficit to beat Misamis Oriental, 92-85, in overtime and rule the second leg of the Tournament of the Philippines at the Lagao gym in Gen. Santos City last Saturday.

The Meteors pounced on the Ironmen’s poor start and scored the first 18 points before posting a 47-23 bulge with two minutes left in the second quarter.

But just when they thought they had heard the last of Cobra, the Ironmen charged back in the second half behind Llagas and Barua to annex the biggest comeback win so far in the two-week tournament organized by the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) and Liga Pilipinas.

Cobra thus notched 10 points with the win in the event backed by Air21, ANI-FCA, Ascof Lagundi, Molten, Burlington and Lhuillier Kwarta Padala, Basketball TV and Treston College.

In all, Cobra pooled 12 points to trail league-leader and first leg winner M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Cebu by three points in the tournament organized by the Philippine Basketball League and Liga Pilipinas.

Llagas came away with 18 points in the second half and overtime to finish with 20 points along with eight rebounds. JR Tecson added 14 points.

Espiritu, who won the leg MVP honors, scored just six points but had seven assists and three shot blocks while Lingganay had seven points, nine rebounds and six assists.

Barua and Tecson combined to hit six of the team’s 10 triples in the fourth quarter as the Ironmen erased a 77-67 deficit with 2:59 to go to tie the game. Ronald Lamocha hit a putback, 23 seconds left to put MisOr back in the lead but Espiritu dished off an assist to Llagas off big man Mark Andaya to even things up again at 79 to send the game into overtime.