Purefoods back in the hunt

Purefoods got another clutch performance from Lenny Cooke as it rallied to beat FedEx, 90-84, yesterday to enhance its bid for the quarterfinals in the PBA Reinforced Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City last night.

Cooke exploded with a game-high 39 points and a season-high 28 rebounds to lead the Hotdogs to their third win in 11 outings, the same record by the Express, that kept them in the race for the last quarterfinal slot in Group A.

And the 21-year-old Cooke did it despite succumbing to cramps early in the fourth quarter that sidelined him for more than five minutes.

"He just gave us a lot of energy despite the cramps and all," said Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio, who earlier attended a coaches’ seminar conducted by the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves in the United States.

It was also the Hotdogs’ first back-to-back wins in six and a half months. The last time was a three-game run at the expense of San Miguel Beer, Talk n Text and Barangay Ginebra in the All-Filipino Cup elims last April.

"We never gave up, that’s the most important part," said Gregorio.

FedEx put the cuffs on Cooke early on as the Express led by as many as 13 points at 43-30 in the second period and took a 10-point margin, 51-41, at the break.

But Gregorio and the Hotdogs opened the third quarter with the talented Cooke detonating bombs in the third quarter, erupting for 13 markers in the period including nine straight capped by a step- back triple as the Hotdogs seized the initiative, 71-67.

After John Ferriols closed the gap at 69-71 with an inside stab at the start of the final quarter, Cooke was fouled by Yancy de Ocampo while attempting a basket and landed badly, agonizing with cramps on his left leg, less than 11 minutes to go.

But the Purefoods locals, led by the exciting frontline duo of Kerby Raymundo and Billy Mamaril, kept FedEx at bay while Cooke was being massaged from the bench.

And when Cooke returned five minutes later, he quickly made an impact by blocking a Ren Ren Ritualo three-point attempt and scoring on a lay-up a play later for a 81-78 lead.

" It was a big, big win for us. We’re glad we’re able to win despite overcoming a big lead to do it. It showed the team’s new attitude," said Gregorio.

Coca-Cola survived a ferocious rally by Talk n Text in the stretch as it pulled off a 97-93 triump that extended its amazing run to six and firmed up its hold of the lead in Group B with an 11-1 slate.