“We still have another game to win, we will do the celebrations later,” Gregorio told scribes moments after Purefoods’ 94-82 victory over the Beermen at the Araneta Coliseum put the Tender Juicy Giants within another triumph of making the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.
Kerby Raymundo and Roger Yap had 18 points each and three others turned in 10 points or better as the Giants pounced on a lethargic San Miguel stand to take a 3-2 lead in the series many though the Beermen would dominate with their sheer firepower.
“We’re one game away from upsetting mighty San Miguel,” Gregorio added. “But this series is far from being over. We need to do what we have been successful at and that is to hold them to the minimum (offensively).”
Purefoods, in its three victories, had held San Miguel to 84, 84, and 82 points, a testament to the kind of defense the Giants are playing.
Sunday night was no different as Purefoods kept the Beermen out of synch the whole match, not allowing San Miguel to get into any offensive rhythm as the pendulum has suddenly swung in the Giants’ favor.
It was the first winning streak in this series after both teams split their first four games, and it couldn’t have been uglier for San Miguel, which has never been dominated like this the whole tournament long.
The winner of the series will face Alaska, which swept Barangay Ginebra, 4-0, in their own semifinal showdown, in another best-of-seven series for the championship.
Should Purefoods go all the way against the Beermen, the Tender Juicy Giants will see action in their 19th Finals, an impressive 12 of those coming in this tournament.
A victory by San Miguel, meanwhile, would put the Beermen in their 27th title series appearance but just their eighth in the all-Filipino tournament.
Purefoods closed out the half with an 11-3 spurt and turned a close 38-33 lead into a 49-36 cushion before hitting the locker room for the halftime break.
It was the veteran Raymundo who ignited the run with a three-pointer before joining hands with rookie forward Rico Maierhofer to finish that blitzkrieg.
The 6-foot-6 Raymundo scored seven points while the 6-foot-5 Maierhofer added four.
James Yap scattered 12 points in the first half, highlighted by two three-pointers. Roger Yap has been enjoying a rejuvenation of form in these playoffs, topping his offensive effort with seven rebounds and six assists.
San Miguel’s loss also spoiled a huge night for Olsen Racela, the veteran point guard who matched an all-time league mark by chalking up eight steals. Racela also scored eight points even as Jay Washington led the Beermen with 21 markers and seven boards.
Purefoods jumped out of the gates hard and never trailed after taking a 6-0 lead.
In a related development, Barangay Ginebra became one of the first teams to enlist an import for the coming Fiesta Cup by signing National Basketball Association veteran Awvee Storey for the tournament tentatively set to get off the ground on March 21.
Coach Jong Uichico disclosed this yesterday in a phone call from Arab News even as the team, after becoming just the fourth team in league history to be swept on Wednesday, already resumed practice.
Ginebra will face either San Miguel or Purefoods in the battle for third.
A native of Chicago, Storey saw action for the New Jersey Nets, the Washington Wizards and the Milwaukee Bucks and has career averages of 2.4 points and 1.4 rebounds.
The 6-foot-6 swingman’s recent professional stint came with the New Zealand Breakers in the Australasian National Basketball League where he averaged 7.8 points and 5.1 rebounds.
On the other hand, as part of their preparation for the Fiesta Cup, Coca-Cola and Burger King will participate in the Dubai Invitational tournament on March 4 to 6.
