Purefoods Tender Juicy has beaten two giants, thus, emerging the biggest giant at least in the first two weeks of the 2007-08 PBA campaign.James Yap and the gang came charging back from an early 17-point deficit and upended Magnolia, 93-90, to take the solo lead in the Smart Philippine Cup Friday night at the Araneta Coliseum.
"Our initial goal was to win two of our first three games. We over-hit the goal but we’re far from the final destination we want to be. We’ve made just little steps. We don’t want just small steps, we want big leaps," said Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio.
"If we’re to be the best, we have to be beat the best teams out there. We’ve beaten two of the preseason favorites. So we’re living up to our names as Giants after three games," added Gregorio, whose charges have pulled the rug from under top contenders Talk ‘N Text Phone Pals and the Magnolia Beverage Masters.
Purefoods remained the lone unbeaten team in the league with a 3-0 win-loss card, counting Sta. Lucia Realty among its victims.
Yap scored 13 of his 25 points in the final canto, sustaining the firepower sparked by rookie Chico Lanete in the third period as the Giants survived a 14-31 deficit early on to hand the Beverage Masters their first defeat in three starts.
The Giants were still staring at a double-digit deficit at 70-80 with seven minutes left to play when Yap fuelled a 20-5 blitzkrieg to stem the tide in their favor.
The 2006 MVP winner himself clinched the win with two free throws, making it 93-90 with 1.7 ticks left.
"It’s a good test. We passed it through perseverance," said Gregorio on their pulsating victory in the match marked by two technical fouls and the ejection of ace guard Roger Yap.
Roger Yap (no relation to James) was ejected midway through the second period as he hit LA Tenorio on the ribcage, sending the Magnolia guard on the floor writhing in pain.
It was a highly emotional match that also had Gregorio and Magnolia assistant coach Aboy Castro having an altercation on the way to the dugout at the half.
James Yap, the former MVP, also had eight rebounds and one assist on top of his game-high 25 points. Lanete added 16 points with 12 coming in the third period, his best game in his young pro career.
Lordy Tugade made 23 to pace the Beverage Masters who also drew double-digit outputs from Rico Villanueva, Danny Seigle, Danny Ildefonso and Dondon Hontiveros.
Magnolia gave up so much rebounds but shot well from the field to take the half at 17-36.
The Beverage Masters were hotter in the first period, shooting 69% from the field and jumping the gun on the Giants to enjoy a 31-14 spread going into the second quarter.
Magnolia dominated the opening half, though badly beaten, 17-36, in the battle off the boards. (NC)
The scores:
Purefoods 93 – Yap 25, Lanete 16, Simon 13, Raymundo 11, Salvador 10, Pingris 6, Adducul 5, Yap R. 4, Yee 2, Larong 1, Sanz 0, Cablay 0.
Magnolia 90 – Tugade 23, Villanueva R. 16, Seigle 12, Ildefonso 12, Hontiveros 11, Tenorio 6, Racela 6, Wilson 4, Eman 0, Fonacier 0, Calaguio 0.
Quarterscores: 14-31, 32-45, 66-69, 93-90
source: pba.com.ph
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