Games Thursday (Ynares Sports Arena)
2 p.m. – Fern-C vs Cobra Energy Drink
4 p.m. – AddMix vs Cossack Blue

Sister teams Cossack Blue and Cobra Energy Drink gun for spots in the semifinals against separate opponents as the 2010 PBL PG Flex-Erase Placenta Cup elimination round draws to a close Thursday at the Yñares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The Spirits try to snap a two-game losing skid when they battle the AddMix Transformers at 4 p.m. shortly after the Ironmen face the Fern-C Ferntastics in the opener at 2 p.m.

Sporting similar 4-2 records, Cobra and Cossack are trying to get better positioning in the Final Four. If they prevail, they will join early semifinalists Pharex B-Complex and Excelroof.

Cobra can earn the No. 2 spot over Excelroof should the Ironmen beat the Ferntastics and the Spirits drop their game due to the winner-over-the-other rule. The Ironmen defeated the 25ers by a single point during their lone elimination round encounter.

But if both squads come out victorious then the 25ers will gain the No. 2 spot and a twice-to-beat advantage in the semis while Cossack will take third and the Ironmen the No. 4 spot.

However, if the Spirits and Ironmen fall to their respective foes, a three-way tie will occur with idle Ascof Lagundi joining them. Should that happens, Cossack and Ascof Lagundi would take the last two semis berths duo to superior quotients.

A Cobra win, though, will automatically eliminate Ascof Lagundi even if Cossack loses. That’s because Cossack beat the Cough Busters, 81-80, in the elims. But a defeat plus a Cossack victory would push them out of the semis.

The Ironmen are coming off a scary 87-85 overtime win over the Ani-FCA Cultivators, and coach Lawrence Chongson knows they have to raise their level of game several notches to beat the Ferntastics.

“We’re still not the Ironmen that everyone expects. Wala pa kami sa peak namin but we hope come the semis makuha namin yung consistency kung aabot kami dun,” Chongson said.

Paul Lee, the hero of Saturday’s win, will lead Cobra's attack alongside veteran gunner Patrick Cabahug, Jai Reyes and Pari Llagas. But they will have to neutralize NCAA MVP John Wilson in order to stop Fern-C.

Cossack mentor Rene Baena will lean again on Earn Saguindel and big man JR Taganas, who is leading the league in rebounds with an average of 16.7 per game and is coming of a 21-rebound effort while hoping for consistent showings from James Martinez and Jorel Canizares.