Tigers buck import-less Giants

Jeff Varem hauled down a season-high 24 rebounds and scored 26 points but Coca-Cola still needed to come up with key defensive stops down the stretch to thwart an import-less but determined Purefoods side, 80-77, in the Talk n Text PBA Fiesta Cup at the Araneta Coliseum last night.

The Tigers held down the Giants to three points while making 10 of their own in the last five minutes of play to fashion out the victory and move to solo sixth place in the standings on a 5-7 (win-loss) card.

The Giants slid to eighth place at 4-8 as Peter June Simon, sizzling with 19 points in the second quarter, and James Yap, scattering 12 points early in the fourth period, lost steam at the finish.

Drawing firepower from Simon and Yap early on, Purefoods pushed Coca-Cola to the limit despite playing without import Marquin Chandler, who was suspended for unsportsmanlike conduct in their game against Red Bull last April 22.

"I was concerned with Purefoods even with Chandler in it. I became more concerned with Chandler’s suspension because I know the kind of character Purefoods has," said Coca-Cola coach Binky Favis.

Talk n Text rode high on the explosive games of J.J. Sullinger, Mark Cardona and Yancy de Ocampo as the Pals routed the Red Bull side, 127-100, in a fight-marred game in the nightcap.

Junthy Valenzuela was thrown out of the game in the second quarter for throwing a punch at Cardona. The fiery Red Bull player is likely to draw stiff sanction for his misconduct.

Coca-Cola’s biggest defensive play was on Yap in the closing seconds with the team hanging on to a precarious 79-77 lead.

The Tigers gained possession on a triple-teaming defense on Yap and went on to seal the win on a free throw by Leo Avenido off a foul by Simon with time down to 2.6 seconds.

With no more timeout left, the Giants, in-bounding from the other end of court, went to Noy Castillo whose prayer of a shot bounced off the rim at the buzzer.

The Tigers lorded it over the boards with Varem pulling down 24 rebounds, the most by any player in a game in 15 months or since Chris Porter pulled down 30 caroms while playing for Ginebra in the same tournament last year.

"Varem was better today. If he concentrates on playing and dominating inside, he would be a tremendous force," said Favis of his import.

Favis also thought his team could make a strong finish in the elimination round if the Tigers are able to polish their offensive play pattern.

"We have no problem playing defense. But if we want to get into the dance, we have to score," said Favis.

PBA NOTES: The all-import team is carrying the Welcoat banner in its exhibition game against the SMC-RP team at the Araneta Coliseum Tuesday. Coach Leo Austria calls the shots for the team featuring Rod Nealy, James Penny, Galen Young, Wayland White, Alex Compton, Marquin Chandler, Shawn Daniels, Rosell Ellis, Jeff Varem, J.J. Sullinger and Jamaal Williams. Upper Box B and General Admission tickets purchased for the Fiesta Cup games last Wednesday and Friday and those to be sold tomorrow can be used for admission in Tuesday’s game.