Cobra's 1-2 guard combo of Paul Lee and Kokoy Hermosisima led a 25-2 blitz at the start of the third as the Ironmen took a commanding 63-38 advantage. The win was the second straight for the Ironmen, who grabbed the solo lead in Group B.

The Ironmen actually had a slow start and were only up by two points, 38-36, at the turn.

Lee finished with 22 points behind 7-of-14 shooting to go with his eight rebounds, four steals and three assists, while Hermosisima tallied 20 points, shooting 4-of-7 from the three-point range.

Ken Acibar had 18 markers and pulled down 11 rebounds, while John Foronda only scored four points but grabbed 11 boards.

"For me, he (Lee) had a bad start and played his C-game, but I tried to involve other players, too. Kokoy showed what he can do as well as Acibar. That's what we are working on, our team effort," said Cobra coach Lawrence Chongson.

Cobra will next face Max! Bond Super Glue on April 14 after using the two-week break for a team-building session in Baguio City.

In the first game, Gio Ciriacruz made four free throws down the stretch to lift Blackwater to a 72-69 win over RnW Pacific Pipes.

Ciriacruz, who played under Arellano coach Leo Isac for five seasons, finished with nine points, 12 rebounds and five assists.

Isaac said that he relied on his current and former players from Arellano and Mapua in the waning moments. "Sa ganitong end game, talagang kailangan ng ulo (brain) sa ganitong sitwasyon."

RnW Pacific Pipes led at 59-55 but Joshua Saret hit a three and Ian Celada hit one of two free throws to tie the game. Celada and Leynes exchanged triples to make it 68-all before Ciriacruz' crucial charities.

Ciriacruz broke a 68-all deadlock in the 43.6-second mark with two free throws for a 70-72 count.

After ex-St. Francis of Assisi guard Rex Leynes made only one-of-two from the line for RnW, Ciriacruz made two more charities to extend the lead to three, 72-69.

Leynes threw a running three-pointer that went in but the referees nullified the basket as he stepped on the sideline before releasing the shot.

Blackwater won their first game after dropping their opening assignment against Pharex, 90-100, on March 17.

"Malaking bagay para sa isang grupo na kailan lang binuo (ang panalo). Mare--realize nila na kaya pala namin manalo against the best aspiring players sa D-League," Isaac said.

Saret led Blackwater's scorers with 13 points while Vergel Zulueta had 12 points. Celada and Rocky Acidre netted 11 markers.

Reuben Terrado, GMA News TV