PUREFOODS REMAINS UNSCATHED
Simon-led Giants outlast Air21 for 7th straight win
Wednesday, 14 November 2007
The Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants found themselves trailing Air 21 Express,17-13, after rookie Doug Kramer hit an eight-footer and Ranidel de Ocampo made two free throws with a little over three minutes left in the first quarter.
Apparently that turned out the be the best challenge the Express could offer as the unbeaten Giants woke up right after, got terrific performances from their second unit led by Peter Jun Simon and plastered the Express, 100-81, Wednesday night for their seventh consecutive victory in the Smart-PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
"My second unit gave us a huge lift tonight. I was waiting for this situation to happen where Simon, (Jondan) Salvador, (Brandon) Cablay and (Chico) Lanete taking over the game from James (Yap) and Kerby (Raymundo)," said a visibly pleased Ryan Gregorio, the Purefoods coach.
Gregorio has every reason to rejoice. His troops have been playing so well each game and look every inch the like the champions of this tournament two season ago.
"I am so proud with the way my team has improved in terms of character and their desire. But I always caution them that what we have achieve this early doesn't mean anything so we have to stay focused,” Gregorio said.
Simon, a quick, pesky guard with a great shooting touch, tallied 22 points on an 8-of-13 shooting and was 4-for-4 from the free throw line.
Roger Yap contributed 15 points and five assists, James Yap had 14 and Raymundo added 13 for the Giants, who are in their best start in any conference in more than a decade and a half. Laneta, a rookie who was netted by Gregorio in the free agency market, had nine points and was unselfish with six assists as Purefoods enjoyed a 21-14 edge in that department.
"Air21 did a good job defending James (Yap) and myself. They really made us struggle for our shots. But it's nice to have a second unit that's always ready pick up the slack. Their ability to contribute enabled James and me to rest and come out fresh in the fourth quarter," said Raymundo, the team's skipper.
Simon, who came off the bench with three minutes left in the opening quarter, immediately made an impact by knocking successive 3-pointers then scored on a fastbreak lay-up before Lanete hit another trey as the Giants closed the period with an 11-0 run to storm ahead, 24-17.
The Express, who picked up their second straight loss – their first time to lose back-to-back games in the conference -- and third overall in six games, tried to stay in the game and managed to pull even at 44-44 on two free throws by Arwind Santos with 10:25 left in the third quarter.
But the Express were not able to sustain it.
Which the Giants capitalized. Marc Pingris, James Yap, Roger Yap, Rommel Adducul and Raymundo conspired in an 18-5 blast to stretch the lead to 62-59 on four straight free throws by Roger Yap and Adducul midway in the period.
Santos, who led all scorers with 25 points and had two shotblocks, tried to singlehandedly carry the fight for the Express by anchoring another charge that pulled the Air21 to within 61-64 on rookie JC Intal's jumper with 1:25 to go.
But Simon struck again, scoring seven straight points and Cablay added a layup to cap a 9-to-nothing run as the Giants all but sealed the victory, 73-61, two minutes into the fourth quarter.
Intal contributed 17 points, Nino Canaleta added 11 and Kramer grabbed 13 rebounds for the Express, who shot just 29 percent (25-of-86) from the field, the lowest in a game in at least the last four seasons.
The scores:
Purefoods 100 – Simon 22, Yap R. 15, Yap J. 14, Raymundo 13, Lanete 9, Adducul 8, Pingris 7, Salvador 5, Cablay 4, Sanz 2, Yee 1, Larong 0.
Air21 81 – Santos 25, Intal 17, Canaleta 11, Kramer 6, Se 6, Dimaunahan 5, Arboleda 5, de Ocampo 4, Sotto 2, Cruz 0, Baluyot 0, Chia 0.
Quarterscores: 24-17, 42-40, 68-61, 100-81
pba.ph
Simon-led Giants outlast Air21 for 7th straight win
Wednesday, 14 November 2007
The Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants found themselves trailing Air 21 Express,17-13, after rookie Doug Kramer hit an eight-footer and Ranidel de Ocampo made two free throws with a little over three minutes left in the first quarter.
Apparently that turned out the be the best challenge the Express could offer as the unbeaten Giants woke up right after, got terrific performances from their second unit led by Peter Jun Simon and plastered the Express, 100-81, Wednesday night for their seventh consecutive victory in the Smart-PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
"My second unit gave us a huge lift tonight. I was waiting for this situation to happen where Simon, (Jondan) Salvador, (Brandon) Cablay and (Chico) Lanete taking over the game from James (Yap) and Kerby (Raymundo)," said a visibly pleased Ryan Gregorio, the Purefoods coach.
Gregorio has every reason to rejoice. His troops have been playing so well each game and look every inch the like the champions of this tournament two season ago.
"I am so proud with the way my team has improved in terms of character and their desire. But I always caution them that what we have achieve this early doesn't mean anything so we have to stay focused,” Gregorio said.
Simon, a quick, pesky guard with a great shooting touch, tallied 22 points on an 8-of-13 shooting and was 4-for-4 from the free throw line.
Roger Yap contributed 15 points and five assists, James Yap had 14 and Raymundo added 13 for the Giants, who are in their best start in any conference in more than a decade and a half. Laneta, a rookie who was netted by Gregorio in the free agency market, had nine points and was unselfish with six assists as Purefoods enjoyed a 21-14 edge in that department.
"Air21 did a good job defending James (Yap) and myself. They really made us struggle for our shots. But it's nice to have a second unit that's always ready pick up the slack. Their ability to contribute enabled James and me to rest and come out fresh in the fourth quarter," said Raymundo, the team's skipper.
Simon, who came off the bench with three minutes left in the opening quarter, immediately made an impact by knocking successive 3-pointers then scored on a fastbreak lay-up before Lanete hit another trey as the Giants closed the period with an 11-0 run to storm ahead, 24-17.
The Express, who picked up their second straight loss – their first time to lose back-to-back games in the conference -- and third overall in six games, tried to stay in the game and managed to pull even at 44-44 on two free throws by Arwind Santos with 10:25 left in the third quarter.
But the Express were not able to sustain it.
Which the Giants capitalized. Marc Pingris, James Yap, Roger Yap, Rommel Adducul and Raymundo conspired in an 18-5 blast to stretch the lead to 62-59 on four straight free throws by Roger Yap and Adducul midway in the period.
Santos, who led all scorers with 25 points and had two shotblocks, tried to singlehandedly carry the fight for the Express by anchoring another charge that pulled the Air21 to within 61-64 on rookie JC Intal's jumper with 1:25 to go.
But Simon struck again, scoring seven straight points and Cablay added a layup to cap a 9-to-nothing run as the Giants all but sealed the victory, 73-61, two minutes into the fourth quarter.
Intal contributed 17 points, Nino Canaleta added 11 and Kramer grabbed 13 rebounds for the Express, who shot just 29 percent (25-of-86) from the field, the lowest in a game in at least the last four seasons.
The scores:
Purefoods 100 – Simon 22, Yap R. 15, Yap J. 14, Raymundo 13, Lanete 9, Adducul 8, Pingris 7, Salvador 5, Cablay 4, Sanz 2, Yee 1, Larong 0.
Air21 81 – Santos 25, Intal 17, Canaleta 11, Kramer 6, Se 6, Dimaunahan 5, Arboleda 5, de Ocampo 4, Sotto 2, Cruz 0, Baluyot 0, Chia 0.
Quarterscores: 24-17, 42-40, 68-61, 100-81
pba.ph
