Game Preview: Cobras-Quackies

YMCA (AP) - If there is one guy on the Cobras roster who wants RBK to equalize their longest winning streak so bad is Michael Kent.

2 years ago, Cobras was on the same trail, notching 9 straight victories before bowing to CKSC Rabbits. It was also the same Michael Kent who critics say, it was the period wherein we saw Kent playing unselfish basketball, which is uncharacteristic of him. 2 years ago, he has Sheila Gaw as his inspiration. 2 years later, he is just playing great.

"I just want it so bad. So bad that it could somehow serves as my redemption." Kent said.

2 years after his rejection moment, Kent is back in a familiar moment, not in rejection mode but his team is playing extreme basketball. Fresh from a magnificent come from behind victory over PSBA Santas, Cobras are back on a verge of tying the franchise longest winning streak.

"This is personal. There's no doubt that I would like to erase all the bad memories of 2008. Now that the season is similar to 2008 season, we as a team would like to achieve more." Kent said.

Cobras are undefeated since acquiring Ronald Ke. His shot-blocking and inside presence has been the missing piece of this team. GM Cheng finally found a gem in Ke. And Ke delivers all the intangibles, leaving the usual scoring to the RBK scorers. "They've improved a lot since last year. They've got great shooters and the addition of Ke brings another dimension into their game." Santa said.

Quackies are next in line for Cobras, hoping to be the jinx to snap their 8 game run. Dubbed as their rivals for the past 2 years, Quackies is the best team to snap Cobras run because of their familiarity. "We know their game. We know who their scorers is and how they run their offensive sets." Johen Sy said. "But with the addition of Ronald Ke, we don't know how to react to their adjustment because he is a great player."

Cobras will have to play without Ben Lim, who is out due to personal reasons. "We just have to double our efforts. But this does not hinder our plan of going for 9. We're doing it with or without Lim." Kent said. "And there's no doubt in my mind that we can do it because we have a great team with great players without egos and dedicated to team play."

Again, all basketball gods will be watching. Destiny is now picking which side he'll be at. RBK Cobras have just done the impossible and there's no questioning the team's desire to win. "The team's hungry. We want that streak." As for Kent, this is another game wherein he can place his legacy and greatness, if ever he can help the team to win. A deja-vu of 2008, Kent is all fired up.

"Winning record on the line and no opponent is better for us to face than our rivals in Quackies. There's no stopping us now, not even the absence of Lim. My sheer will and determination could play a big role for this game and I hope it could inspire the rest of the guys." Kent said.

"Again, I don't see us losing this game. Simple as that."

Cobras Push Win Streak To 8!

Trailing by 6 points with less than 2 minutes remaining, RBK Cobras winning streak seems to be in jeopardy.

And with just one final basket needed to snatch their first win of the season, Santas did everything they could to at least preserve the victory.

Miracles happen in basketball, my friends.

RBK Cobras scored the final 8 points in regulation in a miraculous fashion to grit out a come-from behind victory over PSBA Santas 120-118. In what the basketball gods called as a gut-wrenching comeback, Cobras delivered it with style on a game wherein their winning run was at stake. And for Santas, this loss hurts so badly that even their calm star player Anthony was seen frustrated at the bench after the final buzzer.

Greatness. This is what critics described Cobras at the height of their 8 game winning streak.

Trailing 118-112, Kent misfired on a triple but a follow-up by Ronald Ke trims the lead to 4. Santas, desperate for theie first victory, went to Anthony only to have his shot blocked by Ke. Feeling confident, Santas never came back on defense. Kent brought the ball upcourt and sees Chan wide open from the right corner.

Swish.

With the lead slowly evaporating for Santas, 118-117, again desperate for victory went to Anthony again, only to have his shot blocked once again. This time, Ronald Ke ran the ball on a fastbreak play. Needing a triple, he faked but he heard someone whispers "Sa Likod mo".

It was Kent.

As he released a three-point shot with 2 feet far from the normal 3 point line, all eyes were watching the ball whether it would give Cobras their 8th game winning run. Nerves and tension ran through the veins of Santas, knowing they've let Kent have an open look for a game winner. Cobras hold their breathe as they await the outcome of the shot.

Swish. As Kent would say, Game over.

RBK Cobras continued their mastery over PSBA Santas, thanks largely to those 2 juggernaut triples by Kent and Chan to seal the deal. "Unbelievable. We thought our run was over." Lim said.

Not this night. Not with all the basketball gods are sealing Cobras destiny of equalizing their franchise longest run. Not on a night wherein Kent, who was the anchor of the longest run 2 years ago, would be the goat but rather as a hero. Not on a game wherein Ke gave his all out effort for those 2 humongous blocks.

"This loss hurts, no doubt. We have our foot in the door. All we have to do is to close the game. Unbelievable. They've done it with fashion." Santa said.

"This win gave us confidence towards our next game. We're hoping we can match it on Sunday. We want it and we will get it." Chan said.

With what happened on this game? There's no doubt that destiny is siding with the Cobras.

Game Preview: Cobras-Santas

YMCA(AP) -The hottest team of the league is simply going for another juggernaut.

Riding on a superb seven game winning streak, RBK Cobras aims to continue their strong push as they tries to win their 8th game in a row and solidifying their chase for the team's longest winning run at 9 games. Victories over Quackies, Santas and Guchitoids have this team feeling good of their chances of reaching or even surpassing the longest winning run that was set last 2008. Their next opponent? PSBA Santas.

And no one remember's the last 9 game winning run better than Michael Kent.

It was during that stretch that Kent's learned his fate 2 years ago. It was also that torrid stretch that Kent played his best basketball of his entire career. It was also during that stretch wherein Cobras became the best team for the year.

Now, it's happening all over again. And Kent avoids history to repeat itself.

Also riding on a torrid shooting, Kent is averaging close to 28 PPG in his last 6 games, an average that resembles 2 years ago. What made Cobras a lot better is the addition of Ronald Ke in their fold and the solid play of their key core players. "We're simply hot. We're firing on all cylinders and honestly, I don't see us losing tomorrow." Chan said. "Once this team starts rolling, ego flatten, then we're a hard team to beat."

With a lineup that is so balance from inside to outside game, Cobras possess all the arsenal that Santas need. The continuous rise of Ben Lim have given Cobras enough hope to win it all over this year. Kent has been the playing solidly for the last 6 games, a perfect timing to play well during the midseason. "If Boston has Paul Pierce, Boston needs the truth. Well for us, we need the tooth. Pierce drives and draws fouls, hoping to get free points from the line. For Kent, it's the same thing. He's peaking nicely and hopefully he continues to play like this." Tsai said.

"This is the perfect time to see us play, see how hard it is to stop a team like RBK Cobras. We have the tools. We have everything. We've never been so confident before so let's get it on." Kent said.

Santas? Edward Santa has to do a better job of playing the point guard position as Lim outplayed him the entire game during their last meeting. "We've got to stop their offensive game. They've got real scorers. They've got a lot of shooters. So, we just have to come out and bring our A-game." Santa said. Santas will rely on Anthony and 2 chawis to impose their running game.

Reality wise, is their any chance that Santas will win tomorrow's game? "No way in hell. That's how confident I am." Kent said. "This is the stretch that I once lose 2 years ago. This is the stretch that best resembles what happened 2 years ago. I will not let history repeat itself."

ODDS: FULLTIME- SANTAS +20 VS COBRAS

ODDS: HALFTIME- SANTAS +25 VS COBRAS