INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - Coca-Cola finally showed signs of life just before the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup took a break to pay respects to the dead.

Playing solid as a team for a change, the Tigers overcame an early 15-point deficit to turn back Purefoods, 93-79, Friday night and nail down the elusive first win in the season-opening tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

“I think the players just refused to lose,” coach Kenneth Duremdes said. “They (Tigers) knew that we were struggling and they came up with a sense of urgency (for this game).

“It’s always hard to notch a first win and hopefully, we could carry this (momentum) to our next games.”

Norman Gonzales came off the bench to shoot 3-of-5 triples and Dennis Espino stepped up in the clutch as the Tigers ended a four-game slide.

Wesley Gonzales also shot the same clip, but the real key to the Coca-Cola victory was that it was able to limit itself to just 14 turnovers after coming into the game averaging a league-worst 27.7 a game.

Coca-Cola came into this match carrying an average losing margin of 16 points after dropping assignments against Sta. Lucia, Barako Bull and Alaska.

Rain or Shine, which beefed up with former UAAP MVP Jervy Cruz and veteran Mark Clemence Telan, is now the only winless team in the tournament with a 0-4 card. Guest team Smart Gilas’ 0-3 record has been stricken off the official standings after a recent ruling by the Office of the Commissioner.

In observance of All-Saints’ Day, meanwhile, there will be no games this weekend. The league resumes the elimination round on Wednesday with Alaska shooting to win a fifth straight game by clashing with Sta. Lucia in the 7:30 p.m. contest.

San Miguel and Rain or Shine are slated to slug it out in the first game at 5 p.m. also at the Big Dome in Cubao.

Purefoods, which enjoyed a 58-43 lead late in the second quarter after a Niño Canaleta triple, absorbed its second loss against as many wins and fell to he middle of the pack.

The Tigers methodically worked themselves back in the game after trailing by 15, with the veteran Dale Singson scoring on a twisting layup with 6:22 left to finally shove Coca-Cola ahead, 74-73.

Those baskets by Coca-Cola came inside a four-minute and 32-second scoreless spell for Purefoods, which enjoyed its last lead at 73-69.

Singson did further damage by following up that lay-up with a triple which came before a Larry Rodriguez free throw and an Espino jumper for 80-73 with 4:18 left.

Singson later on left the floor because of a suspected left hamstring pull.

It was basically over for Purefoods after that, as the Tender Juicy Giants played pretty disorganized ball in the fourth quarter, where they were outscored, 32-12, by the Tenacious Tigers.

Former MVP James Yap went on to lead all Purefoods shooters with 15 points even if he was held to just a free throw in the fourth and to a total of just six for the second half. Kerby Raymundo added 15.

Purefoods used a hot second half start to build that 15-point lead, which rookie Rico Maierhofer spiced up by scoring on a two-handed breakaway jam on the way to eight third quarter points.

The former La Salle ace, who was picked second behind the controversial Japeth Aguilar, went on to score 11 points with Canaleta finishing with 12.

The scores:
First Game
COCA-COLA 93—Gonzales N. 17, Espino 15, Gonzales W. 13, Bono 8, Ross 7, Macapagal 7, Cabagnot 7, Rodriguez 6, Cruz 6, Singson 5, Catli 2.

PUREFOODS 79—Yap J. 15, Raymundo 13, Canaleta 12, Maierhofer 11, Yap R. 9, Pingris 6, Allado 6, Artadi 4, Simon 3, Timberlake 0, Adducul 0.
Quarters: 17-18, 36-36, 61-67, 93-79