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Magnolia, Burger King Aim to Catch-up with Harbour Centre
(November 15, 2008)

Games today
(Emilio Aguinaldo College)
2 p.m. – Hapee vs. Burger King
4 p.m. – Toyota Otis vs. Magnolia

BURGER King and Magnolia Pure Water ride the crest of their separate overtime victories two days ago when it takes on winless but dangerous opponents today at the resumption of the 2009 PBL PG-Flex Linoleum Cup.

The Whoppers (1-0) take the floor first, clashing with Hapee Complete Protectors (0-1) in the 2 p.m. first game of a weekend doubleheader at the Emilio Aguinaldo College gym.

The Wizards (1-0) follow next when they battle the Toyota Otis Sparks (0-1) at 4 p.m.

Both teams are fresh from morale-boosting wins that were decided in overtime. Magnolia came back from 16-points down to nip Pharex, 88-80, while Burger King failed to handle a 14-point lead but steadied in the end to prevail over Bacchus Energy, 83-79.

Victories by the Wizards and Whoppers would allow them a piece of the lead currently owned by defending champion Harboue Centre.

“We’ll just try to carry on the momentum,” said Whoppers coach Allan Gregorio of Burger King’s breakthrough win that wasn’t in the bag until Ogie Menor and Marcy Arellano sparked a decisive run in the final minutes of the extra period.

Magnolia Pure Water counterpart Koy Banal is again hopeful another one from his roster, backed up by University of Santo Tomas, will step up the way reserve point guard Yuri Escueta did in the Wizards’ drubbing of the Generix.

Escueta, the 5-foot-10 playmaker from Ateneo, finished with 10 points, five rebounds and five steals while leading a big second half comeback by Magnolia.

“Every game is different, so we’re always on the lookout for someone who will produce the oxygen for our team,” he said.

Against a solid and talent-laden team like Toyota-Otis, Magnolia will certainly need a lot of air to breath.

One of the only few teams which managed to retain the same core it had last season, the Sparks are considered the biggest title threat this conference notwithstanding their 93-98 loss to the Batang Pier in Toyota Otis’ opening game.

Like Toyota, Hapee is also raring to bounce back and give Burger King a good fight.

Despite getting 20 big points from star player Jervy Cruz, the Complete Protectors were stunned by the Bacchus Warriors in their debut, 84-88, spoiling the first coaching game of Gee Abanilla with the franchise.

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