Riding the crest of back-to-back overtime victories over the Alaska Aces and the San Miguel Beermen, the Giants stepped up their game even more and overpowered the Kings to firm up their hold of second place with a 4-1 win-loss record.
Incidentally, Purefoods fashioned out an amazing comeback from a 17-point third-quarter deficit in whipping Alaska, 97-92, in the most recent visit by the PBA here during the classification round of the 2005 Fiesta Cup last March 31.
Picking up where they left off here, the Giants became only the second team in the tourney to score three consecutive victories after the unbeaten league-leader Talk n Text Phone Pals.
Sean Lampley was practically missing in action as the Kings suffered a second straight loss and their third in five games in all. The 6-foot-6 import, who averaged 22.2 points in the Kings’ first four games, struggled for only six points last night.
Purefoods’ Marquin Chandler made 20 points and once again got the needed support from James Yap and Kerby Raymundo in showing up the Ginebra squad which was curiously the best team on the road last season.
The Kings recorded 10 wins against two losses in out-of-town games last campaign compared to the Giants’ poor 5-6 card.
Meanwhile, San Miguel coach Jong Uichico is not yet about to push the panic button though his team remains winless in three starts now.
Uichico said their goal is to finally get off the hump as they collide with the Red Bull Barakos at the resumption of action at the Araneta Coliseum today.
"Hindi pa lang makuha iyung rhythm. At mataas pa rin ang morale ng teams dahil yung mga talo naman namin ay puro close games," said Uichico.
With close defeats to Talk n Text, Coca-Cola and Purefoods Chunkee, the reigning champion is ironically the only remaining winless team in this season-opening tourney.
The Beermen seek to arrest their three-game losing streak against the unpredictable Barakos who have split their first four games and are currently tied with the Sta. Lucia Realtors.
The Realtors also see action in this Sunday twinbill clashing with the Air21 Express in the 4:10 p.m. curtain-raiser.