Despite loss, Vodka Spirits earn right to face Pharex in PBL semis

Suffering an 88-53 demolition at the hands of the AddMix Transformers wasn’t a problem for Cossack Vodka as the Spirits still grabbed the last semifinals berth in the 2010 PBL PG Flex-Erase Placenta Cup.

It was the third straight loss for the Vodka Spirits after winning their first four games as the Rene Baena-mentored Cossack squad ended up tied with Ascof Lagundi at fourth to fifth place after the elimination round. Cossack, which benefited from the win-over-the-other rule to break ties in the season-opening conference, earned the coveted semis spot after beating Ascof, 88-87, in their lone elimination round meeting. The Vodka Spirits will face top seed Pharex B Complex in the crossover semifinals that starts on Saturday. The other semis match will have the second-ranked Cobra Energy Drink taking on Excelroof. Both Pharex and Cobra need only one win to arrange a best-of-three championship showdown for the season-opening crown. The title series begins on March 25. Four players from AddMix scored in double digits with rookie Gio Ciriacruz leading the way with 12 points as the Leo Austria-coached Transformers ended its PBL debut with three wins in seven games. “Playing in the PBL is tough and we really wanted to end our campaign on a winning note and I’m happy we achieved our goal for this game," said Austria. A James Martinez jumper kept the Vodka Spirits in the game as they trailed by just eight points, 44-36, with five minutes and 46 seconds left in the third canto. But the Transformers, tightening up their defense to force their rivals to several turnovers, used a 22-4 run in the final quarter to finally silence the Vodka Spirits. – GMANews.TV