PUREFOODS IN COMMAND, 3-0

Source: PBA.COM.PH

PUREFOODS is set to give Alaska a dose of its own terrible medicine.

The Giants banked on a late surge fueled by the Aces’ own collapse to carve a 79-78 decision Sunday and move within another win of sweeping their KFC-PBA Philippine Cup championship series at the packed Araneta Coliseum.

James Yap scored 14 points and PJ Simon 12 while KG Canaleta and Kerby Raymundo each hit a clutch endgame basket that were enough to lead Purefoods into a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven duel before a crowd of close to 15,000.

Alaska was limited to a single point inside the last three minutes of the game as it missed three field attempts and committed three turnovers, resulting in it being on the short end of an 18-11 count in fourth quarter points.

Still, the Aces had the chance to steal the game when they gained possession in the last 19 seconds. But Willie Miller’s attempt at a winner went awry against a phalanx of defenders with his frontal banked shot try not even hitting the rim at the last second.

The Giants can now wrap it all up should they win Game 4 and reprise what the Aces did against Barangay Ginebra in their semifinals series.

Coach Ryan Gregorio prefers to remain cautious. “I look at coach (Tim) Cone as the best coach in the league so at this point there is no reason for me to be happy.

“Yes, we’ve got a 3-0 lead but it takes four wins to wrap up series. “We just have to come up with the same kind of energy and willingness and determination to wrap it up.”

Cone also do not see the end coming to his team on Wednesday despite no team having come back from a 0-3 deficit in both the PBA and NBA.

“I’ll tip my cap and sing Purefoods praises when this series is over,” Cone stated. “But it’s not over yet. The first order of business is going out and trying to win it on Wednesday. “

Miller wound up with a gamehigh 20 points while Joe Devance finally came up with the game expected of him with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Sonny Thoss and Tony dela Cruz also submitted double figures with 12 and 10 points.

But Thoss fouled out with still 3:34 left and Devance was blamed for two of the turnovers and one of the misses in the endgame.

KG Canaleta, meanwhile, scored all eight of his points in the fourth, including a triple that capped Purefoods’ fightback from 13 points down and tied the game up for the last time at 77.

Following an Alaska turnover, Raymundo, who missed all his first 13 tries from the field, left Devance looking silly with an up-and-under move that gave Purefoods the lead for good, still 57 ticks left.

Canaleta, however, almost became the goat when he got free and was tempted to fire a trey. He did and the shot was short, resulting into what would be the last possessions for Alaska.

“Once again, our defense held up,” said Gregorio. “When KG took that hurried shot, I heard from the bench: ‘Let’s bail him out! Let’s bail him out!’ Indeed, we made some stops.”

In the end, the Giants emerged with a 47-46 edge off the boards, making Cone insist his team is far from tired as many tend to observe. “They just out-executed us down the stretch,” he stated.

Picking up from where it left off, Alaska opened up the second half by charging to the game’s biggest lead at 55-42, its drive abetted by the same man expected to give Yap the biggest support.

Raymundo was called for an offensive foul during a drive and was also called for a second motion on Hugnatan. Tenorio canned the charity and Miller drained an elbow jumper for the 13-point margin 6:45 left in the quarter.

Purefoods kept within striking distance through a player who has had his own struggles in the first two games.

Rico Maierhofer, who scored just six points in the first two games, eclipsed that with a seven-point explosion in the last 2:25 of the third quarter, enabling Purefoods to move within 61-67 going into the fourth period.

As important, the rookie was able to prod Thoss into committing his fifth foul with a side-stepping drive that resulted in a three-point play sparking the Giants’ surge.

The teams’ respective stars started shining in the first half which Alaska took 44-36 after opening up with a 15-4 lead and hardly letting up.

Yap’s fastbreak layup made it a very manageable 32-35 count, but Miller found his rhythm and led another Aces breakaway.

James Yap already had eight points at the half, an output Miller equaled in the second quarter alone for 12 points at the half.

Even the likes of Devance and Reynel Hugnatan stepped up their rebounding game when Thoss was slapped with two early fouls and got caught for his third with still 4:06 left in the second period.

Devance scored all his nine first half points in the opening period, sparking and fueling Alaska’s fine start, before Don Carlos Allado launched a straightaway catch-and-shoot trey, trimming the deficit to just 15-21 after the first 12 minutes of play.

The Scores:

Purefoods 79 - Yap, J. 14, Simon 12, Canaleta 8, Pingris 8, Reavis 8, Raymundo 8, Maierhofer 7, Yap, r. 5, Allado 5, Salvador 3, Artadi 1.

Alaska 78 - Miller20, De Vance 16, Thoss 12, Dela Cruz 10, Tenorio 8, Hugnatan 6, Ferriols 4, Borboran 2, Fonacier 0.

Quarters: 15-21, 36-44, 61-67, 79-78.

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