PBA: Purefoods sets semis match against Alaska by ousting GlobalPort, 101-94

MANILA, Philippines – The Purefoods Star Hotshots have taken the 3rd Semis slot by eliminating the inexperienced Globalport Batangpier 101-94, on their Sunday sudden death showdown, June 28 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, in Cubao, Quezon City.

Marqus "Mr. Everything" Blakely
Marqus "Mr. Everything" Blakely takes a shot in front of a Globalport defender | Credit: Inquirer.net
If there will be a bad memory that needs to be forgotten on every Globalport player’s mind that would be the 53-point debacle against the lower-seeded Purefoods Star Hotshots last Friday.

Shooting blanks, Marqus Blakely’s 23-point production in just 24 minutes, James Yap’s open court dunk and Gaco’s 3-point output are just some of the nightmares that Coach Pido Jarencio experienced couple of nights ago.

Still, the ghosts of the past still haunted Coach Jarencio and his boys as early as the opening quarter of their Sudden Death Sunday.

Blakely continued to punish the Batangpier offensively together with his partner-in-crime and totally rejuvenated James Yap for a lightning quick dozen points.

Coach Jarencio has seen enough and had no choice but to call a ceasefire. After the 30-second timeout, Purefoods abruptly felt Globalport’s dynamic imports: Jarrid Famous and Omar Krayeb who both didn’t want to pack their bags and book their flights back to their homelands. The Duo blitzed and produced 13 points combined after 12 minutes of nail-biting quarter. Purefoods were up, 21-16.

Just like the first game, Globalport locals were firing blanks in all angles of the floor and gave ample spaces to the Star Hotshots. Purefoods’ lead started to balloon 3 minutes after the opening of the 2nd, 31-18.

Globalport’s condition worsen even more, as Keith Jessen was penalized with a flagrant foul 1 for intentionally hacking Marqus Blakely from behind on a fast break run. Blakely made the technical foul shot plus PJ Simon and Justin Melton’s dagger three-pointers for a 21-point margin, 39-18 with 6 more minutes remaining in the 2nd period.

American import Jarrid Famous was the only Batangpier who was relentless and had the desire to win the game as he pushed and single-handedly managed to trim down their 20 plus point deficit to single digit 49-40 after the first half. Famous improved his previous conference low of 15 points to 22 markers with one more half to go.

James Yap opened the second half with a floater in the middle. Stanley Pringle who was a total sleeper in the 1st half came alive for a fast 6 points to cut the lead to just 5.

Surprisingly, the Hotshots just scored 3 points until mid of the 3rd while the Batangpier has already made a 9 point run to shorten the lead to just 3.

On the 3:35 mark of the 3rd period, a controversial play irritated Coach Pido Jarencio. Jarencio called a substitution during a dead ball, but the referee under the basket held the ball to Purefoods for the inbound pass. PJ Simon caught the ball and took the shot while all Globalport players were not in their defensive position.

Ronjay Buenafe hit a three-pointer for the first deadlock of the ball game 56 all
for the first time. Globalport took the lead via Stanley Pringle’s right side drive. But Joe Devance and Justin Melton were too prompt to counter and regained the lead 70-65 entering to the 4th and final period.

Stanley Pringle and Jarrid Famous continued to work hard and were able to regain the lead for the second time 71-70. Famous and Pringle had 38 and 16 points in total.

Purefoods Head Coach Tim Cone gathered his wards to prevent Globalport’s scoring run. Mark Barroca and James Yap made a back-to-back basket and brought the lead back to their side. Yap won the Best Player of the game with 17 points in total.

Jarrid Famous, despite of his 38 point-game high performance and the rest of Globalport squad looked too tired in the last 6 minutes of their do-or-die game. They were missing all of their shots and can’t get the rebounds as well. Purefoods capitalized on Batangpier’s tired bodies and extended their lead again to double-figures 86-75.

Globalport showed an act of surrender by letting Purefoods score in every possession. Hotshots closed the series 101-94 and will start their Semis campaign against the top-seeded Alaska Aces.

Scores:

PUREFOODS 101 – Yap 17, Mallari 17, Blakely 15, Simon 14, Devance 13, Taha 8, Pingris 6, Barroca 6, Melton 5, Pennisi 0

GLOBALPORT 94 – Famous 38, Pringle 16, Romeo 15, Krayem 9, Jenssen 7, Buenafe 6, Kramer 3, Miranda 0, Mamaril 0, Semerad 0

- D' Waterboy, TheSummitExpress



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