Giants hit stride, rally past Sta. Lucia Realty

MANILA, Philippines – Purefoods struggled in the first three quarters but got into the groove in the last period, upending Sta. Lucia Realty, 93-91, to gain a share of second place in the Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum last night.

The Giants hit their stride even as import Marquin Chandler groped for form throughout, fashioning out a come-from-behind victory to pull even with the Realtors at 6-4.

“We’re so complacent in the first three quarters, knowing Sta. Lucia’s without Kelly Williams and Bitoy Omolon. But we played the game in the fourth quarter,” said Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio.

“We want to keep on stepping on the gas. We want to be in this situation (at second place) but we want it at the end of the classification round. So, hopefully, we can sustain our run,” Gregorio added.

Kerby Raymundo, James Yap, Roger Yap, PJ Simon and Enrico Villanueva carried much of the fight for the Giants with Chandler off-form and finishing with only 11 points after a 30-point game versus the Coca-Cola Tigers Wednesday.

Anthony Johnson piled up game-highs 26 points and 16 rebounds but fouled out with 1:33 left to play.

In the nightcap, Barangay Ginebra turned back an all-Filipino Talk N’ Text squad, 97-90, to force a four-way logjam at fourth place.

“We’re lucky to survive Talk n Text. They played a great game without having an import. It would have been a big letdown had we lost the game,” said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico.

The Kings made it three in a row and caught up with the Texters, the Burger King Whoppers and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at 5-5.