BACKCOURT ACES LIFT ALASKA TO BIG WIN OVER GIANTS
Sun, 11/22/2009 - 22:02
Alaska Milk topped the first round of the 2009-2010 KFC PBA Philippine Cup elimination phase, capping an 8-1 win-loss record with a 101-87 thrashing of Purefoods at the Araneta Coliseum Sunday. The Aces played a solid game throughout as they kept their domination of the Giants whom they swept in four meetings in the 2008-2009 campaign. At 8-1, the Aces start the second round a full game in front of the second-running San Miguel Beermen (7-2). The Barangay Ginebra Kings could also be at 7-2 if they can win their last two games against the Talk n Text Tropang Texters and the Coca-Cola Tigers. "Our Talk n Text game was big for us as we showed our resiliency and the resolve to bounce back from a loss. But this is bigger than that. We wanted to finish on top and we're able to do that," said coach Tim Cone after his troops got past the Giants. "Purefoods is a tough team. On paper, they're among those on top. We beat them playing well all night," Cone added. "There are a lot of other good teams out there and there's still the second round. But we want to reaffirm ourselves. We want to continue playing on a high level of play. That's our challenge." Play on a high level the Aces did against the Tropang Texters and the Giants, enabling them to bounce back with back-to-back wins after an upset loss to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. "You will tumble and fall sometime but the important thing is how you pick your self up. The guys showed character in getting these back-to-back wins," said Cone. Riding the momentum of a 110-106 win over Talk n Text Friday, Alaska simply outclassed Purefoods, dealing the Giants a fourth loss against the same number of wins. Successive victories remained elusive for the Giants who, with the loss, slid to sixth place behind the Aces, the Beermen, the Kings, the Sta. Lucia Realtors (5-3) and the Texters (4-3). The deadly backcourt combo of LA Tenorio and Willie Miller had another splendid showing with the former churning out 24 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals and the latter getting 22 points, eight rebounds, four assists and one steal. Alaska, boosted by Tenorio's perfect shooting early on, took the half at 52-42. The former Ateneo Eagle piled up 16 points in the first two quarters of play as he went 3-of-3 from both the three-point area and the two-point zone, and one-of-one from the stripe. Tony dela Cruz, Larry Fonacier and Sonny Thoss also produced significant numbers for the Aces who led by as many as 22 points, 80-58, before tapering off a bit at the finish. Kerby Raymundo led the losing team with 25 points with Paul Artadi adding 19 and PJ Simon chipping in 10. James Yap scored only eight as he sat out practically the entire fourth quarter due to a bruised knee. He was 0-of-6 from the three-point area. (SB) The scores Alaska 101 -- Tenorio 24, Miller 22, Dela Cruz 12, Fonacier 11, Thoss 10, Hugnatan 8, Borboran 5, De Vance 4, Cablay 3, Ferriols 2, Burtscher 0, Cariaso 0. Purefoods 87 -- Raymundo 25, Artadi 19, Simon 10, Yap J. 8, Pingris 7, Allado 6, Timberlake 4, Reavis 4, Maierhofer 2, Yap R., Salvador 0. Quarterscores: 25-19, 52-42, 72-58, 101-87
Alaska Milk topped the first round of the 2009-2010 KFC PBA Philippine Cup elimination phase, capping an 8-1 win-loss record with a 101-87 thrashing of Purefoods at the Araneta Coliseum Sunday. The Aces played a solid game throughout as they kept their domination of the Giants whom they swept in four meetings in the 2008-2009 campaign. At 8-1, the Aces start the second round a full game in front of the second-running San Miguel Beermen (7-2). The Barangay Ginebra Kings could also be at 7-2 if they can win their last two games against the Talk n Text Tropang Texters and the Coca-Cola Tigers. "Our Talk n Text game was big for us as we showed our resiliency and the resolve to bounce back from a loss. But this is bigger than that. We wanted to finish on top and we're able to do that," said coach Tim Cone after his troops got past the Giants. "Purefoods is a tough team. On paper, they're among those on top. We beat them playing well all night," Cone added. "There are a lot of other good teams out there and there's still the second round. But we want to reaffirm ourselves. We want to continue playing on a high level of play. That's our challenge." Play on a high level the Aces did against the Tropang Texters and the Giants, enabling them to bounce back with back-to-back wins after an upset loss to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. "You will tumble and fall sometime but the important thing is how you pick your self up. The guys showed character in getting these back-to-back wins," said Cone. Riding the momentum of a 110-106 win over Talk n Text Friday, Alaska simply outclassed Purefoods, dealing the Giants a fourth loss against the same number of wins. Successive victories remained elusive for the Giants who, with the loss, slid to sixth place behind the Aces, the Beermen, the Kings, the Sta. Lucia Realtors (5-3) and the Texters (4-3). The deadly backcourt combo of LA Tenorio and Willie Miller had another splendid showing with the former churning out 24 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals and the latter getting 22 points, eight rebounds, four assists and one steal. Alaska, boosted by Tenorio's perfect shooting early on, took the half at 52-42. The former Ateneo Eagle piled up 16 points in the first two quarters of play as he went 3-of-3 from both the three-point area and the two-point zone, and one-of-one from the stripe. Tony dela Cruz, Larry Fonacier and Sonny Thoss also produced significant numbers for the Aces who led by as many as 22 points, 80-58, before tapering off a bit at the finish. Kerby Raymundo led the losing team with 25 points with Paul Artadi adding 19 and PJ Simon chipping in 10. James Yap scored only eight as he sat out practically the entire fourth quarter due to a bruised knee. He was 0-of-6 from the three-point area. (SB) The scores Alaska 101 -- Tenorio 24, Miller 22, Dela Cruz 12, Fonacier 11, Thoss 10, Hugnatan 8, Borboran 5, De Vance 4, Cablay 3, Ferriols 2, Burtscher 0, Cariaso 0. Purefoods 87 -- Raymundo 25, Artadi 19, Simon 10, Yap J. 8, Pingris 7, Allado 6, Timberlake 4, Reavis 4, Maierhofer 2, Yap R., Salvador 0. Quarterscores: 25-19, 52-42, 72-58, 101-87