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PUREFOODS shoots for its second straight win against Sta. Lucia
Realty and level their best-of-seven Finals series for the Smart-PBA
Philippine Cup Friday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Coach Ryan Gregorio said the Giants have found
the right formula and have proven it by winning Game 3, 118-107, on
Wednesday.
“At least by this victory, we have proven that
we can beat Sta. Lucia,“ said the 35-year-old Gregorio, who is
aiming to become the first Purefoods coach to win two All-Filipino
title.
The Giants and the Realtors, who are seeking for
their second conference crown and first All-Filipino title, face
each other at 7 p.m.
A win by the Realtors, who won Game 1 (109-97)
and Game 2 (112-101), will move them closer to clinching their
second title after the 2001 Governor’s Cup.
“That is what we are going to avoid. So, we
have to tie the series on Friday,” added Gregorio, whose Giants
already won eight PBA crowns, four were All-Filipino titles since
1988.
For his part, coach Boyet Fernandez said he was
really expecting the Giants would make a strong comeback. “That
what I told my wards, but we have to give credit in the way
Purefoods played in Game 3. So, now we knew the 2-1 advantage may be
far from over,” said Fernandez, who steered the Realtors to the
championship in only his second conference as a coach.
Purefoods outscored the Realtors in the fourth
quarter, 32-27, which was the key to their victory, thanks to
James Yap’s 12 points and Kerby Raymundo’s 5. The duo also for
the first time played less than 40 minutes in the game.
For the first time in the series, Kelly Williams
could only score 10 points but still played 42 minutes. The leading
“Player of the Conference” candidate finished 24 points in the
Game 1 and 28 in the Game 2.
Williams’ low-scoring output was a big factor
that likewise slowed down the Realtors in the last quarter.
Gregorio said that it’s going to be a long and
tough series, which Fernandez said that the Realtors will try to
avoid because of the Giants’ championship experience.
-- Frank Calapre
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