One to go for Hotdogs

Purefoods’ amazing Hotdogs sustained their impeccable comeback in the best-of-seven title series, beating the Alaska Aces ,84-72, in Game 5 of the Samsung PBA Governors’ Cup final last night before another capacity crowd at the Big Dome.

The Hotdogs simply overwhelmed the Aces with torrid offensives to move up three games to two, needing another win to share one of the treasured records in league history.

Purefoods needs only to win in Game Six tomorrow to equal Toyota’s 0-2 comeback in a 1982 title series over San Miguel.

And it has the tools and the heart to achieve the feat.

"We now have the edge but we’ll continue to come out with a lot of energy and, hopefully, we can get it in Game Six," said Purefoods acting coach Ryan Gregorio.

Gregorio shuffled his usual rotation for the first time in the series as the team came in full force and the Hotdogs responded with might to move into the threshold of their first title since the 1997 All-Filipino.

The Hotdogs can clinch a sixth title in franchise history with a victory either tomorrow or in Game Seven Sunday.

"We now have a big advantage over Alaska but the series is definitely not yet over. We can’t count Alaska out until we get that fourth win," he added.

With Alvin Patrimonio and Ronnie Magsanoc back in harness, the Hotdogs proved tougher to handle as the Aces suffered their first three successive defeats in the tournament.

Thus Purefoods sent Alaska reeling to the brink and it would need two straight wins to salvage the championship and its proud winning tradition.

"Can we come back? Definitely, it’s a tall order. But we’ll show up, give our best shot and see what happens," said Alaska coach Tim Cone.

The Hotdogs actually got off to a slow start but made a daring breakaway in the second quarter behind the combination of Patrimonio, Magsanoc, Roger Yap and imports Derrick Brown and Kelvin Price and never looked back to deal the Aces a frustrating defeat.

Probably because of frustration and disappointment, Cone flared up halfway through the fourth quarter and headed to the dugout ahead of the rest due to technical fouls. Ron Riley was also called for one technical in the homestretch for throwing the ball to Yap.

Keeping their focus on the game were the Hotdogs who, after taking a 42-29 spread late in the second quarter on a 13-point run, pressed their bid in the final half to move unassailably ahead by 20 points, 64-44.

Brown and Price continued to outclass Riley and James Head, and Purefoods found an easier time repulsing Alaska with the local Hotdogs stepping up in the contest. Brown scored a game-high 25 points, Price added 19, and three local Hotdogs in Magsanoc, Raymundo and Patrimonio all fired 10 or more.

The Hotdogs ripped the game open at 42-29 right in the first half, cashing in on numerous errors by the Aces. Alaska, which averaged 12 turnovers in the first four games of the series, committed 10 in the first half alone.

Purefoods scored 22 points off Alaska’s errors. The Aces, on the other hand, got only three on the Hotdogs’ turnovers.

"We’re not playing the game in the same standard as Purefoods. Ryan (Gregorio) is making good adjustments and we’re not. Maybe it’s because of our youth we’re really frustrated and the tendency when you’re frustrated is to lose your focus," said Cone.