IT’S PUREFOODS AGAINST SMB IN PRESEASON TITLE GAME

Battle of undefeated teams slated Friday at San Juan Arena
Philippine Basketball Association website
Thursday, 27 September 2007

Despite playing a non-bearing game, Purefoods still pushed itself to the limit before hacking out an 83-81 win over Welcoat Wednesday at the JCSGO Gym in Cubao, Quezon City.

The win -- their fourth in as many games -- enabled the TJ Giants to sweep Group B of the 2007 PBA Preseason tournament and look good going into its winner-take-all championship game against Group A topnotcher San Miguel Beer.
Marc Pingris tipped in a James Yap lay-up miss with 9.1 seconds left for the marginal basket.

The Dragons still had enough time for a game-winner or to send the game into overtime but JayArr Reyes’ attempt at the buzzer failed to find its mark.

James Yap, who also forged the game’s last deadlock at 81-all with a triple with 43.6 seconds left, led Purefoods with his 23 points, 17 of them in the second half including 12 in the fourth. Kerby Raymundo led three other Giants in double figures with 18 points which came with eight rebounds.

The loss spoiled Nic Belasco’s debut for Welcoat, which closed out the preseason tourney with a 1-3 record. Newly-signed up by the Dragons to a two-year maximum salary deal, Belasco wasted no time in proving his worth, finishing with 13 points, 12 rebounds and two assists. Reyes topscored for Welcoat with 16.

Purefoods’ championship game against the Beermen is slated 3 p.m. Friday at The Arena in San Juan.

San Miguel Beer, which lost to Alaska in last year’s inaugural preseason tournament, also swept its group, beating the Aces 100-94 last Sept. 15, Coca-Cola 126-116 last Sept. 17, Red Bull 104-102 last Sept. 21 and Sta. Lucia 120-115 in overtime last Tuesday.

The TJ Giants’ other wins in Group A were against Barangay Ginebra 97-87 last Sept. 8, Air21 130-124 last Sept. 13 and Talk ‘N Text 111-105 in overtime last Sept. 21.

Dethroned preseason titlist Alaska defeated Red Bull 105-101 in the first game in a no-bearing Group A game with