Monday, November 26, 2007 Giants score repeat win over Realtors, 84-81
MANILA - The Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants had their second stringers playing a solid game in the final half to prove their mastery over Sta. Lucia Realty with an 84-81 repeat yesterday in the 2007 Smart-PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Chico Lanete and Robert Sanz took over the scoring chores with a combined 15 points in the crucial fourth period to key the Giants’ ninth win against a lone setback.
“It was our bench mob that delivered when needed most as our starters were visibly tired. We are lucky to have Rob Sanz and Chico Lanete, who probably played the biggest game so far in their professional career,” said Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio.
Lanete and Sanz provided the needed lift when the Giants were down by three points, 50-53, going into the final half to regain the lead, 84-81, entering the fourth quarter.
“We are also lucky to have Rommel Adducul controlling the rebounds, which is a good sign before we will meet Magnolia in our next game,” added Gregorio.
But unlike in their first meeting—also won by the Giants, 96-89, on Oct. 17—which resulted to a heavy nine technical fouls and two players getting ejected, the second encounter was free of rough and rugged play.
“We have a mission and it is to win our every game but it’s still along way for us to go,” said Gregorio.
Marlou Aquino, the 6-foot-9 veteran slot man of the Realtors became the fifth man to post 1,000 blocked shots in over a decade in the pro-league.
Aquino joins Ramon Fernandez, Philip Cezar, Benjie Paras and Jerry Condinera in the exclusive club.
As expected, 2006 MVP James Yap topscored for the Giants with 16 points, while Marc Pingres and Lanete finished with 13 and 12, respectively.
Kelly Williams scored a game-high 27 points for the Realtors, while Joseph Yeo and Dennis Espino had 16 points apiece.
The 6-foot-6 Kelly Williams scored eight points, including two triples, to lead the Realtors to an early 12-9 lead with still 7 minutes gone in the match but in the return play Pingres defied the outsretch arms of Espino to cut the gap to 11-12. (FCC)
