PBL: San Mig edges Pharex, 78-77

Games Saturday: The Arena, San Juan 2 p.m. - Burger King vs Toyota Otis 4 p.m. - Noosa Shoes vs Bacchus Energy Drink MANILA, Philippines - San Mig Coffee edged Pharex, 78-77, on Thursday in the continuation of the PBL Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup elimination at The Arena in San Juan. The Coffee Kings utilized a potent defense in the last 17 seconds to post the victory and give the Medics its third straight defeat for a 5-4 slate. San Mig Coffee also won the first-round match between the two teams, 91-82. The victory was third in eight games for coach Koy Banal's boys that kept their hopes of making it to the next round alive. Niel Raneses scored 17 points for the Coffee Kings, but the 15-points production of Erick de la Cuesta helped the team in sweeping the Medics. " We owe a lot to Pharex because they really pushed us hard in this contest," said Banal. San Mig Coffee erased a 77-74 Pharex lead in the last 17 seconds and took the lead on a free throw by De la Cuesta. But the opportunity to win was there for the Medics who had the last ball possession. De la Cuesta hounded Ian Saladaga and caused the Pharex Medics to fail in their execution. De la Cuesta came back just recently and played his first game in the PBL on Thursday after playing as an import in a Singaporean league. - GMANews.TV