Source: Waylon Galvez, Manila Bulletin
-- After losing the series opener, Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio challenged James Yap and the Giants’ frontline to step their game up.
Yap and company did not frustrate Gregorio as they came through with solid games to help Purefoods score a surprisingly easy 103-84 win and level their Final Four series with San Miguel Beer in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup Friday night at the Astrodome in Pasay City.
Veteran forward Rafi Reavis, one of the players acquired in the off-season, finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds as he ably filled the spot vacated by forward Kerby Ramundo, who was ejected from the game in the second period.
It was the 6-foot-7 Reavis’ best offensive game since the 2004 Fiesta Cup when he scored 22 as a member of Coca-Cola team.
Held to only eight points all from the foul line in an 83-99 loss in Game 1, Yap came through with 17 points, the same output of Nino Canaleta, who celebrated his 28th birthday with aplomb.
He shot 7-of-11 from the field, including 3-of-5 from the three-point territory. Game 3 is set this Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.
“We wanted to come up with the same kind of effort and energy in Game 1. Unfortunately our legs were not present. Luckily today, we were able to play with tremendous effort, tremendous energy. We defended the way we defended other teams,” said Gregorio.
“Good things happen when we make stops. It’s really nice to finally win against San Miguel,” added Gregorio, whose team was 0-3 against SMB this conference prior to the game. “But it takes three more wins to win the series. We just cut it to a best-of-five.”
Holding a 14-point lead (73-59), Yap sparked a 6-0 run to open the final frame as Purefoods took a 79-59 edge with 10:48 left in the game.
SMB trimmed the deficit to 11, 70-81, when forward Danny Seigle (16 points) led a comeback, but Purefoods responded with big baskets down the stretch from Canaleta and Yap, who made a triple for a 93-71 advantage with 3:30 to play.
The Giants were aggressive both ends as they shot 40 of 81 (49.4 percent) from the field while dominating the boards, 51-44. They held the Beermen to a miserable 29-of-75 shooting (38.7 percent).
SMB also failed to capitalize on the ejection of the 6-foot-6 Raymundo with 4:11 left in the second period with Purefoods ahead, 42-30.
Friday, February 12, 2010
0 comments