PUREFOODS SWEEPS ALASKA, TAKES ON TNT IN SEMIS

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PUREFOODS Star showed the poise of a true champion in the stretch to hold off Alaska, 96-89,Sunday and advance to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Denzel Bowles notched 32 points and 11 rebounds and three local teammates had at least 11 points each, but it was Marc Pingris making a couple of crucial plays and Alex Mallari and Mark Barroca proving steady from the stripe in the endgame that enabled the Hotshots to sweep the best-of-three series.

“Big relief, to get through against a tough opponent like Alaska,” said Purefoods head coach Tim Cone after the game, which saw his team lead by as much as 75-55 in the in the fourth quarter, only to be severely threatened by the Aces who closed in at 84-88 going to the last two minutes of play.

“It certainly got scary there in the end,” noted Cone. “They showed their character, they didn’t quit, they kept coming right at us. I can’t tell you how glad we are to get through this.”

The follow up to their more lopsided 120-86 win in the series opener last Friday lined the Hotshots up for a best-of-five duel with Talk ‘N Text, which the then San Mig Super Coffee beat for the tournament crown last year.

Cone said that history, laced by his team’s 118-117 triple overtime thriller over the Tropang Texters in their eliminations matchup last March 14, should make up for a humdinger of a series.

“(It) should be a whale of a series. They’re playing well, we’re playing relatively well,” noted Cone. “It could be a really, really good series.”

The semis pairing could start as early as Wednesday or next Monday, depending on how quick the Meralco-NLEX quarterfinals duel ends.

For now, there’s enough time to savor the most recent hard-earned victory against Alaska, which was formally relegated to sixth place.

RJ Jazul scored 22 points, anchored on 6-for-8 three-point shooting, and Damion James had 21 points and 11 rebounds, aside from sparking and fueling that most telling of the Aces’ run with six of his markers.

James’ baseline floater brought Alaska within four and Alaska had the chance to move closer when James Yap lost the ball in Purefoods’ ensuing possession.

It was then that Pingris started his heroics by first tapping the ball from James and then converting on a double-clutch layup on the other end.

That would prove to be the decisive play although Mallari and Barroca made the charities that kept the Aces at bay and made even Cone wonder.

“It’s quite surprising, because we don’t usually make free throws, especially down the stretch,” said Cone. (NC)

The scores:

PUREFOODS 96 – Bowles 32, Devance 16, Barroca 14, Yap 11, Mallari 7, Pingris 6, Maliksi 6, Simon 3, Melton 1, Reavis 0, Pennisi 0.

ALASKA 89 – Jazull 22, James 21, Abueva 14, Casio 10, Thoss 8, Baguio 7, Banchero 3, Manuel 2, Hontiveros 2, Exciminiano 0, Menk 0, Dela Cruz 0, Baclao 0.

Quarterscores: 30-21, 46-43, 70-55, 96-89

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