Games Thursday (The Arena in San Juan)
2 p.m. — FERN-C vs Pharex B-Complex
4 p.m. — Ascof Lagundi vs AddMix

Although blessed with the best amateur cage talents available, Cobra Energy Drink coach Laurence Chongson hopes his wards will play more consistent in the 2010 PBL PG Flex-Erase Placenta Cup.

Though they have won their first two games, Chongson admits his squad still lacks the cohesion in this season-opening tournament.

“Malakas kami on paper. But you won’t win a championship on paper,” Chongson said.

As of presstime, the Ironmen are tied on top with idle Excelroof with identical 2-0 records. Cobra, however, needed a strong rally in the payoff period to pull off the twin wins.

Cobra had to rally from an eight-point deficit to beat AddMix, 81-77, last Thursday and then overcame a 10-point deficit two days later to stop Pharex B-Complex, 78-77.

"Yung problema namin is cohesion. All-Star team ito eh, hindi pa nagkakaamuyan yung mga players,” Chongson admitted. “Kahit ako hinahanap ko pa yung tamang combination but I have a bunch of guys, kung baga pinag-e-experimentuhan ko pa.”

The Asia Brewery franchise, led by holdovers Paul Lee, Pari Llagas and Patrick Cabahug, beefed up its roster in the offseason by adding Ateneo’s Jai Reyes, JRU’s Marvin Hayes, UST’s Chris Camus, La Salle’s Peejay Barua, and the Mapua tandem of Allan Mangahas and Mark Sarangay.

Also listed on the Cobra roster are FEU’s Paul Sanga and Reil Cervantes and La Salle’s Maui Villanueva and Joshua Webb were not allowed by their respective schools to play. Fil-Am Marcio Lassiter was acquired in the draft but is now a part of the Smart Gilas-RP team while Ateneo’s Eric Salamat could possibly play, pending approval from his school.

Despite a deep roster, the focal point of the offense is still entrusted to the 6-foot-1 Lee, who averaged 24.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.0 steals in the first two games. The 2009 UAAP Mythical Five member was also named as playing assistant coach.

“Of all the players in Cobra, siya lang nakakaalam ng sistema ko. We’ve been together since 2008,” said Chongson, also Lee’s coach in the UAAP runner-up University of the East.

Cobra returns to action Saturday when it plays sister team Cossack Blue at the Yñares Sports Arena in Pasig City.