PBL: Urbiztondo, Matias help Pharex force deciding Game 5

MANILA, Philippines – Fil-Am Josh Urbiztondo and Ronnie Matias denied Oracle Residences of making history Tuesday as the two teamed up to help Pharex force a deciding Game 5 for the 2009 PBL PG Flex Unity Cup title. Urbiztondo scattered 19 points while Matias made eight straight markers in a crucial fourth-quarter scoring run to lead the Bidang Generix to victory and tie the best-of-five title series at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City. The 5-foot-9 Fil-Am guard was the only spark that the Bidang Generix needed with his three-pointer, two seconds left in the second quarter, igniting the push that shifted the momentum for the Jappy Pascual-owned squad. Urbiztondo, in the third period, buried three more triples after that while Sean Co added another from downtown as Pharex took an 11-point lead. Matias, meanwhile, capped his fourth-quarter heroics with a twinner that gave the Bidang Generix a 69-64 cushion heading into the final minutes of the match. Turnovers also did not help Oracle’s cause as three straight errors, including an inbound violation by do-it-all guard Mark Barroca, caused them the chance of winning for the Mikee Romero-owned franchise a league-record seventh straight crown. Matias finished with 16 points and grabbed nine of Pharex’s 53 rebounds, compared to 39 made by the Titans. Chris Ross, the season’s most valuable player, was not active offensively but did a good job of limiting Barrroca to a season-low three points. Ross only scored six points but had 13 rebounds and eight assists. Barroca, together with Philippine developmental team members Aldrech Ramos and Mac Baracael, did not play for Oracle in the Titans' 88-70 Game 3 win after joining the RP squad in a tournament in Japan. Jerwin Gaco paced the Titans with 16 points while Benedict Fernandez and Chris Timberlake added 14 and 12 each. “It was very tough, but I expect that because Oracle is a tough team. It was our heart that carried us to victory," said Bidang Generix coach Carlo Tan. – GMANews.TV Game Thursday (Ynares Sports Center, Pasig) 3:00 p.m. – Oracle Residences vs Pharex Best-of-five title series Game 1 – Oracle 79, Pharex 73 Game 2 – Pharex 81, Oracle 72 Game 3 – Oracle 88, Pharex 70 Game 4 – Pharex 73, Oracle 67 (Series tied at 2-2)