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Monday, March 07, 2005
Dacia scores 14 in debut but FedEx loses to Purefoods
By Jade S. Violeta
PUREFOODS staged a searing comeback to beat the FedEx, 92-90, and spoil former University of the Visayas Green Lancers stalwart Bruce Dacia’s debut in the PBA Fiesta Cup yesterday at the Araneta Coliseum.
In the second game, Red Bull also took a come-from-behind win, 93-86, over Ginebra San Miguel.
Dacia, a rookie for the Green Lancers during the time of Alaska’s Stephen Padilla and Talk ‘N Text’s Felix Belano Jr., scored 14 points in his first PBA game to help what seemed to be an almost-perfect FedEx offense.
That, before the Hotdogs unleashed what could perhaps be one of the most amazing comebacks this season to pull the rug from under the Express.
Behind by 19 points in the opening half, the Hotdogs crawled back in the second half, completing the come-from-behind win in the dying seconds after import Antonio Smith and Noynoy Castillo engineered a game-breaking rally.
With FedEx ahead by nine, 90-81, in the last 3:15 of the game, Smith, a last-minute selection, drained four straight points and Castillo hit a trey and a go-ahead jumper in the last 1.7 seconds to cap an 11-0 Purefoods run that allowed them to escape with the victory.
FedEx had a chance to tie the game in the return play, but former USJ-R Jaguar John Ferriols hesitated with his jumper and instead opted to pass as time expired.
Castillo took Best Player of the Game honors after finishing with 17 markers on a 7-of-12 shooting on top of seven assists.
Smith, who played college ball at Michigan State and was a regular fixture in the Italian league the last two years, also had a colorful debut for the Hotdogs as he outshone his co-Michigan State alum, Miller, with his 22 points and 21 rebounds.
Miller, who played for three years at Michigan State, led the losing Express with 20 points and 20 rebounds. Ren-ren Ritualo chipped in 24 markers. (JSV)
(March 7, 2005 issue)
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