MANILA, 31 October 2004 — An effective blend of experience and youth spelled the difference on Friday night as FedEx humbled Purefoods 102-98 and snapped a two-game losing skid in the Gran Matador PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Veteran Jerry Codi?era and young gun Ren-Ren Ritualo scored all but four of FedEx’s last 22 points as the Express improved to 3-3 while handing the Hotdogs their third defeat in six outings.
Codi?era, the second oldest player in the league who will turn 38 next month, provided the clutch baskets down the stretch while Ritualo delivered the cushion FedEx used in turning back the gritty Hotdogs.
Codi?era finished with 16 points on top of eight rebounds, five of them off the offensive boards. The 17-year veteran moved within three rebounds of becoming the all-time leader in offensive rebounding.
Long retired Alberto Guidaben of the defunct Crispa Redmanizers had a league-leading 2,373 offensive rebounds in 21 seasons.
Ritualo matched Codinera’s 16 points. Wynne Arboleda led FedEx with 17, one of six Express players to score in double digits.
Providing a glimpse of his glorious past, Codi?era scored seven straight points, including a highlight jumper from the side that made it 96-92 and served as a parrying point against the rallying Hotdogs.
He added another split from the line to make it 97-92 before Ritualo sealed FedEx’s victory with two more free throws in the last three seconds for the final count.
Before Ritualo sealed the outcome, the former La Salle standout scored nine straight points behind two completed three-point plays and a three-point shot.
That stretch of individual brilliance carried FedEx out of a precarious 80-77 lead to zoom ahead 89-80.
Although Purefoods closed to within 92-94 after James Yap connected on three charities after being fouled by Ritualo while shooting from three-point land, Codi?era bailed FedEx out with his timely baskets.
In the second game, San Miguel toasted Olsen Racela with a 93-82 victory over Red Bull Barako. Racela, whose birthday falls on Nov. 1, had a big hand in making his day as he teamed up with Nic Belasco in a fiery second-quarter assault, paving the way for the Beermen’s breakaway victory.
Racela himself underscored the best game dished out by the Beermen as he got away with a solid all-round performance with 21 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals in 38 minutes of play.
