Purefoods TJ Hotdogs hopes to arrange a championship showdown with Alaska Milk when it tries to close out its best-of-seven semifinal series against San Miguel Beer in Game 6 of the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup playoffs this Sunday at the Astrodome in Pasay City.
The Giants and the Beermen clash in the lone game at 6 p.m.
Purefoods moved a win away from entering the Finals for the 19th time in franchise history – and 12th in the All-Filipino conference – when the Giants thumped the Beermen, 94-82, in Game 5 last Friday at the Araneta Coliseum for a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Veteran playmaker Roger Yap, who was a rebound shy of a triple-double in Purefoods’ 97-84 win in Game 4, was again a solid factor in Game 5 as he scored 18 points while adding seven boards and six assists. Forward Kerby Raymundo also had 18 markers.
It was the first time in the series that a team won back-to-back games – the Beermen won Games 1 and 3 while the Giants took Games 2 and 4.
And Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio is hoping that they can carry the momentum of that two straight wins in today’s game.
“It’s going to be tough closing out San Miguel. They have the firepower, the right tools to stage a comeback,” Gregorio said. “But if we can bring the same kind of attitude, the same kind of focus and determination we had in Games 4 and 5, we have a strong chance of ending the series. It’s going to take a lot of effort. We know they’ll come out strong, but we have to come out strong too.”
A win by Purefoods will arrange a best-of-seven titular showdown with Alaska, which swept Barangay Ginebra, 4-0, in the other semifinals pairing.
If the Giants win this Sunday, Game 1 of the Finals will be played on Wednesday. But if San Miguel wins, it will be a do-or-die affair for both on Wednesday.
Gregorio said James Yap, who was held to an average of only 13 points in the first three games but has come alive in the last two with 20 points a game, and Raymundo should be aggressive on offense.
Game this Sunday (Astrodome, Pasay City)
6 p.m. — San Miguel vs Purefoods
Source: Waylon Galvez | Manila Bulletin
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