Purefoods outperformed Sta. Lucia in the conference’s lowest-scoring game here Saturday, and the Giants finished above .500 at the close of the initial round of the KFC PBA Philippine Cup double-round elimination phase.
In a battle between the Finals protagonists two seasons ago, the Giants subdued the Realtors, 68-63, in their out-of-town showdown at the Robert Barbers Memorial Sports Complex and caught up with their victims at fifth place halfway through the elims of the all-Filipino tourney.
It was the lowest-scoring game in the league since Barangay Ginebra defeated Rain or Shine 63-58 on Christmas Day in this very same conference last season.
Purefoods and Sta. Lucia will sport identical 5-4 win-loss cards at the start of the second round Sunday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City with pacesetting Alaska Milk (8-1) going up against Barako Bull (2-7) and second-running San Miguel Beer (7-2) taking on Burger King (3-6).
The Aces zapped the Energy Boosters, 99-83, while the Beermen whipped Whoppers, 117-99, in their first-round meetings.
Burger King starts the second round at 3-6 while Barako Bull is tied with Rain or Shine at 2-7 with Coca-Cola in the bottom of the heap at 1-8.
The last placer after the two rounds misses the playoff phase in this all-Filipino tourney topped by Talk ‘N Text last year.
Purefoods tied Sta. Lucia in the middle of the standings halfway through the elims as the Giants sustained their alternating wins and losses ride in the tourney, emerging triumphant in the Surigao del Norte stop of the Phoenix Fuel PBA on Tour by holding the Realtors to an all-time franchise low in field-goal percentage and the fourth all-time lowest overall in league history.
Sta. Lucia shot only 24.6%, making just 16 of their 65 attempts from the field en route to the lowest output by any team this conference so far.
"We really put value on defense," said Purefoods head coach Ryan Gregorio.
For his part, Sta. Lucia counterpart Boyet Fernandez rued their "bad shooting night."
"We had poor shot selection, bad execution and played lousy. We came back in the fourth but it was already too late," Fernandez explained.
Kerby Raymundo led the Giants with 15 points with Paul Artadi and Roger Yap adding 10 apiece. James Yap shared only seven points while playing with a sore knee.
Raymundo and James Yap scored the first two baskets of the game and the Giants held on to the lead to the finish.
The Giants took the first quarter at 18-13, sat on a 33-26 cushion at halftime and roared to their biggest spread at 46-31 before completing the wire-to-wire win.
The Realtors, who defeated Purefoods in seven games in the Finals two seasons ago to win their first and only Philippine Cup title, came out flat from a six-day respite and suffered a first loss in their last three games.
Sta. Lucia ace guard Ryan Reyes struggled for only six points while key off-season acquisition Gabby Espinas went scoreless for the first time in an SLR jersey.
Kelly Williams paced the Realtors with 16 and a game-high 16 rebounds. (SB)
In a battle between the Finals protagonists two seasons ago, the Giants subdued the Realtors, 68-63, in their out-of-town showdown at the Robert Barbers Memorial Sports Complex and caught up with their victims at fifth place halfway through the elims of the all-Filipino tourney.
It was the lowest-scoring game in the league since Barangay Ginebra defeated Rain or Shine 63-58 on Christmas Day in this very same conference last season.
Purefoods and Sta. Lucia will sport identical 5-4 win-loss cards at the start of the second round Sunday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City with pacesetting Alaska Milk (8-1) going up against Barako Bull (2-7) and second-running San Miguel Beer (7-2) taking on Burger King (3-6).
The Aces zapped the Energy Boosters, 99-83, while the Beermen whipped Whoppers, 117-99, in their first-round meetings.
Burger King starts the second round at 3-6 while Barako Bull is tied with Rain or Shine at 2-7 with Coca-Cola in the bottom of the heap at 1-8.
The last placer after the two rounds misses the playoff phase in this all-Filipino tourney topped by Talk ‘N Text last year.
Purefoods tied Sta. Lucia in the middle of the standings halfway through the elims as the Giants sustained their alternating wins and losses ride in the tourney, emerging triumphant in the Surigao del Norte stop of the Phoenix Fuel PBA on Tour by holding the Realtors to an all-time franchise low in field-goal percentage and the fourth all-time lowest overall in league history.
Sta. Lucia shot only 24.6%, making just 16 of their 65 attempts from the field en route to the lowest output by any team this conference so far.
"We really put value on defense," said Purefoods head coach Ryan Gregorio.
For his part, Sta. Lucia counterpart Boyet Fernandez rued their "bad shooting night."
"We had poor shot selection, bad execution and played lousy. We came back in the fourth but it was already too late," Fernandez explained.
Kerby Raymundo led the Giants with 15 points with Paul Artadi and Roger Yap adding 10 apiece. James Yap shared only seven points while playing with a sore knee.
Raymundo and James Yap scored the first two baskets of the game and the Giants held on to the lead to the finish.
The Giants took the first quarter at 18-13, sat on a 33-26 cushion at halftime and roared to their biggest spread at 46-31 before completing the wire-to-wire win.
The Realtors, who defeated Purefoods in seven games in the Finals two seasons ago to win their first and only Philippine Cup title, came out flat from a six-day respite and suffered a first loss in their last three games.
Sta. Lucia ace guard Ryan Reyes struggled for only six points while key off-season acquisition Gabby Espinas went scoreless for the first time in an SLR jersey.
Kelly Williams paced the Realtors with 16 and a game-high 16 rebounds. (SB)
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