ANTIPOLO, Philippines—Defending champion Purefoods encountered a very inspired and tough KIA Motors side last night, needing more than three quarters to shake off the Sorento before pounding out an 88-77 victory for its fourth straight win in the PBA Philippine Cup at Ynares Center.
The Star Hotshots scored just 34 first half points but dropped 37 on the Sorento in the fourth to rise to 5-3 and stay mathematically in the hunt for a place in the top two and an automatic Final Four berth.
Manny Pacquiao was in a PBA game for the second time, returning to KIA just three days removed from demolishing Chris Algieri of the United States in Macau.
His presence alone made the Sorento a different team as they even led by as many as nine points in the third quarter before eventually bowing out of further contention after absorbing their eighth straight loss for 1-8.
Mark Barroca and Joe Devance fueled Purefoods’ swashbuckling fourth quarter, combining for 22 of the Hotshots’ production in the period where they snuffed the fight out of the Sorento.
“They were very inspired tonight,” Purefoods coach Tim Cone said. “It was hard to meet their intensity and inspiration.”
The only eight-division world champion earned some sort of consolation when the entire Purefoods bench went to him to shake his hand after the game, with James Yap even posing for a photo.
Coach Manny Pacquiao of KIA. PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio
Barako Bull formally clinched a place in the playoffs while eliminating newcomer Blackwater, 97-82, in the first game.
The scores:
BARAKO BULL 97—Garcia 16, Lastimosa 16, Pascual 13, Miranda 9, Intal 9, Pennisi 9, Salva 6, Lanete 6, Marcelo 5, Wilson 4, Salvador 2, Paredes 2, Hubalde 0.
BLACKWATER 82—Faundo 23, Heruela 19, Nuyles 12, Gamalinda 8, Laure 6, Menor 4, Timberlake 3, Erram 2, Rodriguez 2, Ballesteros 2, Celiz 1, Tiongson 0, Artadi 0, Austria 0.
Quarters: 22-9, 41-30, 72-48, 97-82
Second Game
PUREFOODS 88—Devance 16, Barroca 15, Mallari 12, Yap 12, Pingris 9, Maliksi 9, Simon 6, Taha 5, Reavis 4, Melton 0, Gaco 0, Matias 0, Allado 0, Holstein 0.
KIA 77—Cervantes 14, Revilla 12, Dehesa 11, Alvarez 10, Custodio 10, Pascual 8, Raymundo 6, Webb 4, Burtscher 2, Saldua 0, Buensuceso 0, Pacquiao 0, Ighalo 0, Sanga 0.
Quarters: 17-17, 34-34, 51-57, 88-77
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