PUREFOODS ENDS SLUMP INSPITE OF INJURIES
Simon, Raymundo star as Giants add on to Kings’ woes Monday, 27 October 2008
James Yap limped out of the court just 10 minutes into the game but the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants hung tough, checking a four-game slump with a 92-81 win over the Barangay Ginebra Kings Sunday night in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
With the 2006 MVP awardee joining Roger Yap on the sidelines, the Giants used sheer guts as they outfought the Kings, nailing only a second win in six starts in the season-opening All-Filipino tourney.
"Trying times for us. Already without our No. 1 point guard (Roger Yap), we also lost our MVP (James Yap) but somehow we still found a way to win," said Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio."After three heart-breaking losses, we finally found our endgame heroics. It's nice that we have new recruits Aaron Aban and Topex Robinson picking up their game in an opportune time," Gregorio added.
The Giants set out for the game coming off a rough stretch where they lost to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, the Sta. Lucia Realtors and the Coca-Cola Tigers just by an average losing margin of 2.6 points, with two of the games going into overtime.
Oddly, the Giants came out of the rut with a lineup shorthanded by the absence of their two Yaps (not related).
"With an intact lineup, I still don't think we're as strong as the other teams. It's gonna be an uphill battle for us but we'll find ways to win," said Gregorio.
After playing the first 10 minutes of the game, James told his coach he can't play anymore, complaining of a bad back and two sore ankles. Roger suffered a severe knee contusion in their last game against Rain or Shine.
James, who has swelling in between his fourth and fifth vertebrates, had put in 12 points, three rebounds and one assist before calling it a night.
The Giants, who started this very same conference last year with an all-time franchise best 7-0 slate, came through with a solid team import to make up for James' ouster, dealing the Kings a third straight defeat after a 2-0 start in the season.
PJ Simon, last season's Mr. Quality Minutes, led Purefoods with 19 points off the bench with Kerby Raymundo contributing 16 and Aban chipping in a career-best 15.
Aban, picked by Purefoods from the free agent pool after being waived by Alaska at the end of the 2007-08 campaign, went 3-of-5 from the three-point area, 2-of-2 from the two-point zone and 2-of-2 from the stripe.
The entire Purefoods team converted 48 percent (12-of-25) of their three-point shots compared to Ginebra's 33-percent clip.
The Giants also did better in fast breaks with Simon, Aban, Robinson and Chico Lanete starring in their sleek transition plays.
Aban had a five-point binge closing a key attack that gave Purefoods an 84-70 cushion entering the last five minutes of play.
Purefoods took the half at 47-40 but Ginebra pulled even by scoring the first seven points in the second quarter.
At 47-all, Raymundo hit two charities then banged away a trey to touch off a crucial run that had the Giants sprinting to a 66-56 lead.
The Giants sustained the momentum up to the finish to stay in equal footing with the Coca-Cola Tigers who also came out of the rut in the day's other game. (NC)
The scores:
Purefoods 92 -- Simon 19, Raymundo 16, Aban 15, Yap J. 12, Lanete 8, Robinson 8, Villanueva 7, Fernandez 3, Belga 2, Salvador 2, Bugia 0.
Ginebra 81 -- Salvacion 17, Wilson 15, Helterbrand 14, Tubid 11, Cabatu 9, Menk 7, Artadi 4, Pacana 2, Crisano 2, Escalona 0, Holper 0.
Quarterscores: 22-16, 47-40, 66-59, 92-81
