PUREFOODS INCHING ITS WAY UP
PJ Simon went 9-of-10 from the field for 20 points while James Yap and Joe Devance fired 19 apiece as Purefoods Star outmaneuvered NLEX in a pressing and hustling duel, hacking out a 92-76 win in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday night.
Simon, Yap and Devance all enjoyed a good shooting night and the entire team put up a tough defensive job to avoid further sliding near the halfway mark of the elimination round.
“It was a must-win game for us. We needed to win that game, and the guys played like they really wanted to win,” said Purefoods coach Tim Cone.
“Hopefully, this is a harbinger for us. We’re at 2-3, but we can look at that winning two of our last three games. Hopefully, we can make it three-of-four, and so on,” Cone added.
As Purefoods gained some relief, the Hotshots sent the Road Warriors reeling with a third straight loss and fourth in their last five games.
The two teams swapped places in the team standings with Purefoods improving to eighth and NLEX dropping to ninth at 2-4 overall.
“It helped that we knocked in our shots. And I think we got most of our shots on the rhythm of our offense and not on individual play,” said Cone.
The Hotshots ran their patterns well though facing the NLEX press almost all throughout.
Purefoods also applied the press and the Hotshots forced the Road Warriors to commit more turnovers.
Simon, Yap and Devance stood at the forefront of their vicious runs that had them leading by as many as 18 points at 75-57.
The Hotshots took control towards the end of the first period and dominated to the finish with their first five and the second five both giving the team the push.
As the Road Warriors came to within 10 early in the fourth, second stringers Yousef Taha, Justin Melton and Alex Mallari bore the brunt as the Hotshots reestablished a big lead.
Then Yap, Simon and Devance returned as the Hotshots cruised through to victory.
“Tonight, our first group and second group did a good job in being intense. They moved the ball well. They responded to do the job,” said Cone.
Asi Taulava led the losing team with 21 points and 16 rebounds. (SB)
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