PBA: Chico saves the day as Purefoods extends streak
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 11/08/2008 1:11 AM
Printer-friendly version | 
Send to friend | 
Share your views
The less-heralded player on the court came away with the biggest shot of the game.
Chico Lanete, the third guard in the team's backcourt rotation, capped his second-half brilliance with a buzzer-beater jumper at the sideline to help Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants escape with a thrilling 88-87 win over Talk 'N Text Friday night in the 2008-09 KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Astrodome in Pasay City.
Lanete's game-winner extended the Giants' winning run to three games to reach .500 for the first time in the tournament with 4-4 win-loss mark. Purefoods handed the Tropang Texters their third straight loss for a trip deeper in the standings with just three wins in eight games.
"Unbelievable," said Purefoods head coach Ryan Gregorio, who had to use two point guards most of the time in the game with the injury of starting guard Roger Yap and sixth man Peter June Simon.
"With the decimated lineup we have, this gives the opportunity for others to step forward and the start of the night really is Chico Lanete," Gregorio added.
Picked up by Purefoods two seasons ago from the free agency, Lanete teamed up with James Yap and Topex Robinson to rally their team back from 16 points down to steal the game.
And Lanete made sure that their efforts won't go down the drain as he hit the golden basket on a broken play.
"Natapat lang sa akin ang bola. Nung nakuha ko, hindi na ako nagdalawang-isip na itira," said the former Lyceum standout who poured all of his 24 points in the second half.
Down by 10 with 77-87 with 3:26 left in the game, Yap anchored a crucial 9-0 run capped by his three-pointer against two defenders to move within one, 86-87 with 30.6 seconds remaining.
TNT guard Jimmy Alapag threw away a crucial possession in the next play as his pass to Renren Ritualo was too high to catch, giving the ball back to the Giants.
Kerby Raymundo isolated at the right flank but his jumper over Yancy de Ocampo missed the mark but Enrico Villanueva, who struggled all night, delivered his biggest contribution – an offensive rebound with eight ticks left.
Villanueva passed the ball to Lanete at the corner who fumbled a bit but recovered in time to hoist the golden basket.
James Yap led all scorers with 30 points for Purefoods while Raymundo added 12. Robinson played extended minutes for Gregorio and was a big contributor as he listed 10 points, six rebounds, seven assists and two steals.
Mark Cardona paced the Tropang Texters with 21 points while rookie Jason Castro and de Ocampo chipped in 14 each. Talk 'N Text has lost five of its last six games after starting the tournament 2-0.
Alaska 95 Sta. Lucia 89
In the second game, Alaska almost blew a 23-point lead early in the game but fought back in the closing minute to grab a 95-89 win over defending champion Sta. Lucia Realty.
Willie Miller shattered the 89-all deadlock with a three-pointer at the top of the key and Paolo Mendoza missed a potential tying triple in the ensuing play as the Aces notched their third straight win to join San Miguel at the top of the standing with 6-2 win-loss slates apiece.
"How many times he's done that," said Alaska coach Tim Cone of Miller's end-game exploits. "When he took that shot, I knew it will go in. That's the respect I have for Willie."
LA Tenorio had 17 points and seven assists for Alaska while Joe Devance and Miller each had 16 markers.
Joseph Yeo led Sta. Lucia with 21 points for the Realtors, who dropped their third straight loss to slide 3-4. Starting guard Ryan Reyes did not play due to a bad back.
