MANILA, 16 November 2004 — Alaska held San Miguel Beer to two scoring lulls in the fourth quarter and posted its first back-to-back win in the Gran Matador-PBA Philippine Cup, running away with a 77-67 victory on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Brandon Cablay connected on a three-point bomb highlighting an 11-0 spurt early in the payoff period, then drilled a rally-snapping fastbreak lay-up four minutes after as the Aces won for the fourth time in 10 games.
Cablay ended up with the game’s top player honors, scoring above his average of 12 points per game with 19 points on a scorching eight-of-10 field-goal shooting. He also grabbed five rebounds. Unable to really break free from the Beermen in the first three quarters, the Aces found the right time in the fourth when, leading by only 61-60, everything went into place.
Meanwhile, Purefoods, banking on Kerby Raymundo and Rey Evangelista in the clutch, outlasted Shell Turbo Chargers in double overtime, 87-80, to move up to a share of third spot.
The Hotdogs improved to 5-4 to tie their victims behind pacesetting Talk N’ Text and Barangay Ginebra. Jun Limpot topscored for Purefoods with 24 points but the clutch hits of Kerby Raymundo in the second extra inning and the four straight free throws of Rey Evangelista saved the TJ Hotdogs from the jaws of defeat.
Raymundo added 20, including a crucial basket that gave Purefoods an 84-80 cushion with less than two minutes left and the Turbo Chargers fell to their third straight loss.
