INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines—Rico Maierhofer came up with three career marks and James Yap struck hardest in the stretch as Purefoods repulsed Talk ‘N Text, 108-102, to get back in the upper half of the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup standings at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Maierhofer, the second overall choice in the last rookie draft, scored 20 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and had four shot blocks as Purefoods bounced back from a nightmarish loss to Coca-Cola which coach Ryan Gregorio described as a “lesson in humility.”

“Going back to our last game, I thought we were so arrogant,” Gregorio said after the Tender Juicy Giants rose to 3-2.

“It was a lesson in humility for us. I told them that we will do a little celebration after the game. I looked at the tape of our last game (against Coca-Cola) and we looked like a bunch of high school players celebrating after each made shot.

“Our job is to win as many games as possible, not just score baskets in a particular game.”

In the second game, Cyrus Baguio topscored for Barangay Ginebra for the second straight night as the Gin Kings blasted luckless Rain or Shine, 86-77, to rise to 4-1 and deal the Elasto Painters their sixth straight loss.

Baguio hit 17 points and had six assists—both team-highs—coming off the bench as Ginebra proved too tough even without Jayjay Helterbrand and Marc Caguioa.

Six players scored at least 11 points for Purefoods, with Roger Yap also completing a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds and Jondan Salvador adding nine points on top of 10 boards.

Harvey Carey paced the defending champion Tropang Texters, who dropped to a level 2-2 card, with 20 points. Mac Cardona contributed 19 and Jimmy Alapag chipped in 18 while dishing out five assists.

Marc Pingris also played great, shooting 12 points and collaring seven boards, including a tip-in of a James Yap miss with 68 seconds to go which made it 103-99.

Purefoods, rated in the preseason as one of the tougher teams, got sideswiped, 93-79, by a then-winless Coca-Cola crew, which even played minus Asi Taulava.

Interestingly, the victory was the fifth straight for the Giants against the Texters dating back to last season.

The scores:

First Game

PUREFOODS 108—Maierhofer 20, Canaleta 16, Yap J. 13, Raymundo 13, Pingris 12, Yap R. 11, Salvador 9, Adducul 9, Timberlake 3, Artadi 2.

TALK ‘N TEXT 102—Carey 20, Cardona 19, Alapag 18, Belasco 17, De Ocampo Y. 9, Ritualo 7, Dillinger 6, Castro 6, Isip 0, De Ocampo R. 0, Peek 0.

Quarters: 30-25, 53-55, 80-76, 108-102

Second Game

BARANGAY GINEBRA 86—Baguio 17, Intal 11, Cruz 10, Tubid 9, Salvacion 9, Menk 8, White 7, Mamaril 7, Wilson 4, Alvarez 2, Villanueva 2, Kramer 0.

RAIN OR SHINE 77—Cruz 14, Reyes 14, Chan 8, Hrabak 8, Arellano 7, Norwood 7, Telan 6, Mercado 4, Tang 4, Arana 4, Laure 1.

Quarters: 26-17, 44-35, 66-53, 86-77