The 2014 PBA Philippine
Cup elimination round closed earlier tonight with Purefoods, San Miguel Beer,
and Meralco all coming out victorious. More importantly, however, the results
sealed the match-ups for the next round.
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| The big wins by Purefoods, SMB, and Meralco formalized the match-ups for the next phase of the 2014-2015 PBA Philippine Cup. |
Game Capsules (adapted
from InterAKTV):
PUREFOODS STAR HOTSHOTS over BARAKO BULL
ENERGY, 99-83
The Purefoods Star
Hotshots leaned on a brilliant offensive display early and a good dose of Marc
Pingris late as they picked up a crucial victory over Barako Bull, 99-83, that
pushed them up the PBA Philippine Cup standings on Tuesday at the Cuneta Astrodome
in Pasay City. Purefoods shot over 60% from the field and close to that from
three-point range in the first half before getting a big lift from defensive
ace Pingris in the fourth, where he scored 10 of his team-high output. Pingris
finished with 20 points on 7-for-9 shooting, including a perfect 6-for-6 from
the free throw line. He also had five rebounds and four assists. Peter June
Simon scored 16, while Joe Devance had 12 for the Hotshots. Purefoods improved
to 6-5 and drew even with Ginebra at fifth place in the standings. They would
be joined in a three-way tie by the winner of the GlobalPort-Meralco clash
later in the day but will finish seventh, taking on the sixth-place team on the
wrong side of a twice-to-beat advantage. Mark Barroca added 10 points off the
bench, while James Yap finished with nine. JC Intal led Barako Bull with 20
points but the Energy dropped to 4-7.
Line of the Game: Marc Pingris - 20 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 7/9 FGs. |
| Marc Pingris directs traffic for the Hotshots. |
SAN MIGUEL BEERMEN over BLACKWATER ELITE, 91-62
The San Miguel Beermen
clinched the second outright semifinal spot after a rout of expansion team
Blackwater, 91-62, finishing the PBA Philippine Cup eliminations with a 9-2
record. Ronald Tubid scored 18 points and Sol Mercado added 15, both off the
bench, to lead San Miguel in the 29-point rout. June Mar Fajardo, last season’s
MVP, had 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Blackwater kept things fairly
close in the first quarter, trailing by just six, 19-13, after the first 12
minutes, but San Miguel blew the game wide open with a 31-18 margin in the
second period, pushing their lead to 19 points at the break. Veteran Eddie
Laure was the only Blackwater player who scored in double-digits with 10
points. The Elite finished their maiden pro conference winless in eleven games.
Line of the Game: Ronald Tubid - 18 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 2
triples, 6/7 FGs.
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| Ronald Tubid came up huge off the bench for SMB. |
MERALCO BOLTS over GLOBALPORT BATANG PIER, 82-70
The Meralco Bolts closed
out with a big fourth quarter to down GlobalPort, 82-70, and clinch the last
twice-to-beat advantage for the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals. With the win,
Meralco clinched sixth place and the twice-to-beat advantage that goes with it.
They will draw a very tough quarterfinal opponent, though, in Grand Slam
champion Purefoods. GlobalPort, meanwhile, dropped down to eighth place and
will face fifth place Baragay Ginebra, needing to win twice to advance. The
game was tight up until the four and a half minute mark of the final period,
with the Bolts leading, 67-65, but Meralco mounted a crucial 10-2 run to take a
77-67 lead just outside the final minute. The Bolts then held on to pick up
their sixth win in 11 games. Cliff Hodge played the hero for Meralco, finishing
with an all-around line of 15 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks as well as
making some key defensive plays in the last two minutes. He was backstopped by
Sean Anthony’s 16 markers and 7 boards, while John Wilson and Gary David each
tallied 13 markers. On the other end, the Batang Pier were led by Stanley
Pringle and Alex Cabagnot, who tossed in 19 and 18 points respectively. The
streaky Terrence Romeo, meanwhile, was shackled to only 9 markers on 3/13 FG
shooting.
Line of the Game: Stanley Pringle - 19 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 2
triples, 7/12 FGs.
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| Gary David helped Meralco dispose of the Batang Pier on the last day of the elims. (image by KC Cruz/GMANews) |
Unless otherwise specified, all images are by Nuki Sabio/PBA.
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