"This is a statement game for us and a chance to show Purefoods unbelievers that we’re for real," said Gregorio, 29, who is calling the shots for Purefoods while head coach Eric Altamirano is helping the national team prepare for the Asian Games.
Hardworking import Derrick Brown had another superb game with 28 points, 10 rebounds and five assists but it took a slow-starting Leonard White to preserve the Hotdogs’ unbeaten record following victories over Talk N Text and Ginebra.
Joining Purefoods on top of the 12-team field was Red Bull which carved out an 80-69 victory over RP Selecta in the second game. Red Bull won its first two games against Shell and FedEx while RP Selecta took its second straight loss for a 1-2 slate.
Saddled with two quick fouls, White was forced to sit out majority of the first half but returned in the final quarter with a bang as he scored six of his 13 points in that stretch, including a monster slam that gave Purefoods the lead for good.
The Milkmen actually had a chance to knot the count at 75-all following White’s go-ahead slam but Ron Riley, best player in Alaska’s first two triumphs, missed the back end of his charities.
White also plucked the ball from the hands of the bulky Muntrell Dobbins after two free throw misses by teammate Rey Evangelista before four-time MVP Alvin Patrimonio hit four free throws in the closing seconds to hand Alaska its first loss in three outings.