Giants Wins Game 6, Forces Game 7

After the first six games, The Sta. Lucia Realtors and Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants are on a deadlock with three wins each. Purefoods won last night 89-81 against Sta. Lucia to guarantee a winner take all game. They will play the deciding Game 7 of the PBA All-Filipino Cup Finals Series on Sunday.

The Realtors were up 3-2 in the series but they lost last night because of James Yap’s fourth quarter onslaught. Yap scored 20 big points in the fourth quarter alone and finished with game-high 30 points. Yap struggled in the early goings but picked up when his team needed him most. To make up for Yap’s offensive struggle, Marc Pingris stepped up his game and had 9 points and 13 rebounds in the first half alone. Pingris went on to finish the game with 19 points and career-high 21 rebounds. Kerby Raymundo finished with a career high 11 assists to go with his 9 points and 6 rebounds.

Veteran Realtor Dennis Espino finished with 22 points for his squad. Paolo Mendoza and Ryan Reyes each had 11 points. Realtors standout Kelly Williams grabbed 17 boards but finished with only 9 points, his lowest scoring output in the last 26 games.

The Giants and Realtors will meet again on Sunday for the winner take all game at the Big Dome at around 6:30 in the evening.

 

-fouledout

Houston, We Have A Problem

Houston Rockets center Yao Ming will be out for the remainder of the season with a season-ending foot injury that might require surgery.   Yao has a stress fracture injury on his left foot and even if he chooses not to undergo surgery, he will still have to sit out the rest of the season.  If Yao decides to go under the knife, the procedure would involve placing metal screws across the bones on his foot to hold it together.  The other option would be placing a cast on the injured foot and let it heal.  Both procedures would need a healing period of four or more months and this leaves Yao with actually no choice.  One way or another, Yao will surely miss the rest of the season. 

Yao’s injury is a huge blow to the surging Rockets.  If the Rockets continue to win and get a playoff spot, they will have to continue without their Chinese center. 

 

“This is a very difficult day for the organization and our fans.  We’ve been playing exceptional ball, and Yao has been a huge part of that.” Rockets GM Daryl Morey said in an interview.

 

Yao is averaging 22.0 points and 10.8 rebounds per game in 55 games this season.  The Rockets needs to put things together and find ways to make up for the scoring and rebounding void Yao left.  The Rockets will now rely on the 17-year veteran center Dikembe Mutombo, who played in only 14 games this season, to take the spot of Yao.  Chuck Hayes, Luis Escola and Carl Landry will most likely play extended minutes to put up the numbers previously contributed by Yao.

 

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Realtors Just A Win Away From All-Filipino Crown

The Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants looked dazed and confused last night when they played the Sta. Lucia Realtors without their premiere scorer James Yap. The Realtors simply outplayed the Giants and moved one step closer to the AFC with an 88-76 victory over their counterpart last night at the Big Dome.

Sta. Lucia’s Joseph Yeo and Purefoods’ James Yap both missed the game because of suspensions due to physical plays in the previous games. The Realtors were able to adjust well by playing tighter defense and consistent offense. Kelly Williams, who was almost non-existent in the last two games exploded for 20 points and 16 rebounds. Dennis Espino scored 15 points while Nelbert Omolon added 14 points. Marlou Aquino was quiet for most of the game but exploded late in the game and poured 12 points in the final quarter.

 

Kerby Raymundo scored his usual 20 points for the Giants but had little help from the rest of the team. Chico Lanete, who took the spot of Yap, only had 4 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal. Peter Jun Simon struggled last night to find his shooting touch. Simon was expected to step up in Yap’s absence but unfortunately finished with only three points.

The Realtors are ahead with a 3-2 lead in the best of seven series. Game 6 is on Wednesday, February 27 at the Araneta Coliseum, 7 in the evening.

 

-fouledout