San Miguel Beer bags 3rd place

MANILA, Philippines - Purefoods Tender Juicy made key plays in the closing minutes to pull off an 81-77 win in Game 1 of the best-of-7 championship series of the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup Wednesday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

Roger Yap made a crucial offensive rebound and an important tap in the dying seconds to save the game for the Giants for a 1-0 lead in the series.

James Yap led all scorers with 24 points while Kerby Raymundo and Marc Pinrgis added 15 and 13 markers respectively for Purefoods. Pinrgis also had 13 rebounds.

“I may sound a broken record but our defense held on today,” said Giants head coach Ryan Gregorio.

“The only way to beat a fluid team like Alaska to play tough defense and limiting them to 77 after averaging more than 100 in the semis is well within our target,” he added.

Roger Yap scored only 5 points but had 7 rebounds and 5 assists and made two crucial plays that helped Purefoods escape with the win.

The Giants were holding a 78-74 lead on Rafi Reavis’s basket with 2:22 left in the game.

LA Tenorio and Willie Miller missed their attempts in the next possessions of the Aces and Reavis padded their lead to 80-74 with a lay-up, 35.9 seconds remaining.

Miller redeemed himself as he buried a triple to put Alaska back, 77-80, 29.2 seconds left.

The Aces had the chance to come closer when KG Canaleta missed a triple but Roger Yap tapped the ball to Canaleta and was fouled by Tony dela Cruz.

The two-time Slam Dunk champion split his free throws for an 81-77 lead and after Miller lost the ball while going to the hoop, Roger Yap again made an important play by hitting the ball to their frontcourt and wasted precious seconds.

Miller led Alaska with 23 points but shot 9-of-27 from the field. Joe Devance was the only Ace in double figures in scoring with 10.

Beermen bag 3rd place

San Miguel Beer pocketed its 15th third place finish after beating sister-team Barangay Ginebra, 95-88, in their knock-out consolation match.

Dondon Hontiveros scored a team-high 18 points while Danny Ildefonso added 15 including the last four of the Beermen that sealed the victory.

Danny Seigle and Dorian Pena each had 10 markers for coach Siot Tanquingcen, who lost to Purefoods Tender Juicy in the semifinals in 6 games.

“A setback is always a set up for a comeback,” said Tanquingcen, who also drew 9 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists from Jonas Villanueva.

“I told the players, it’s always not too late to do the right thing. Even though hindi kami nag-champion, babalewalain na namin ang third place,” he added.

San Miguel was in full control of the game and Olsen Racela’s three-pointer gave them a 91-83 with 3:55 left in the game.

Enrico Villanueva’s three free throws shoved the Kings to 86-91 but Ildefonso hit back-to-back jumpers to clinch the win for San Miguel, which is bringing in back Gabe Freeman in defending their Fiesta Cup crown.

Ronald Tubid led the Kings with 22 points while JC Intal and Rich Alvarez added 13 and 10 markers respectively for coach Jong Uichico.