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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
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04
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19
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2024
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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
04
19
2024
PBA IMAGES
James Yap and the other members of the Star Hotshots team were in their youth when The Maestro handled the team then still under its original franchise name Purefoods.
Nonetheless, the Hotshots can look back and draw inspiration from the exploits of coach Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan as they tangle with the Alaska Milk Aces in a Petron Blaze Saturday Special at the Panabo Sports Center in Panabo, Davao del Norte.
Game time is at 5 p.m. with both teams out to spark a rally at midpoint of the PBA Governors Cup elimination round.
“San Miguel Purefoods Corp. extends its deepest sympathy and condolences to the bereaved family of coach Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan. Philippine basketball has just lost the epitome of coaching greatness,” said Star top official Rene Pardo as they were one with the entire Phl basketball community in mourning the passing of the legendary coach Wednesday night.
Star team manager Alvin Patrimonio is among those special individuals who have invited to observe the rites the PBA is offering Dalupan before the Ginebra-Rain or Shine tussle at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.
Patrimonio was the lead star of Dalupan in their conquest of Alaska Milk in the 1990 Third Conference finals. Dalupan then steered Purefoods to an amazing comeback from 0-2 down to win the best-of-five title series.
With Dalupan’s remains lying in state at the Ateneo College Chapel, the Hotshots can well come out and play all out to offer something to the former Purefoods coach.
And they’re likely to do just that especially as they’re hard pressed to win at 1-4.
The Alaska Milk Aces are in the same precarious situation with the Hotshots, with a lot of catching of to do in their remaining games in the one-round robin elims.
The goal, for both, is to land in the Top Eight in the end to salvage a spot in the knockout round.
Star needed extra five minutes to score its lone win thus far against
Globalport. Its losses came at the hands of Mahindra, Blackwater, San Miguel Beer and NLEX.
Alaska, meanwhile, claimed its lone win versus Barangay Ginebra. The Aces lost their other games to Meralco, TNT KaTropa, Mahindra and Rain or Shine.
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