FOULEDOUT!

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

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.

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“We’re back” Purefoods Coach Ryan Gregorio said in a post-game news conference after the third game of the All Filipino Cup championship series last night. “Our battlecry coming into this game was to stay alive. I thought my players showed a great sense of survival instincts.”

It was an exciting night for PBA fans as both teams delighted the crowd with a very exciting high-octane game. Sta. Lucia Realtors tried to take the 3-0 advantage but the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants didn’t give in and put up a valiant effort to take their first win in the series over the Realtors (118-107).

Giants stalwarts James Yap and Kerby Raymundo had their usual production of 20-plus points finishing with 27 and 26 points respectively but it was Peter Jun Simon who spelled the difference. Simon finished with 26 big points including nine straight points at the end of the third period.

“Machine Gun” Kelly Williams had an off night and finished with only 10 points. The Giants anticipated Williams’ second half explosion and adjusted fittingly and had him covered every time he touched the ball. Joseph Yeo provided the offense for the Realtors and finished with 22 points but had little help from his teammates. Six key players of the Realtors saw limited playing time due to foul trouble. Veteran Realtor Dennis Espino had 20 points and Dennis Miranda added 17 points before he fouled out.

Game 4 is on Friday, February 22 at the Araneta Coliseum, 7 in the evening.

-fouledout