MANILA, Philippines – Ngayon ay maaari nang huminga ng maluwag si coach Tim Cone.
“It got scary in the end. Big relief we made it through the quarters,” sabi ni Cone matapos talunin ng kanyang Purefoods ang Alaska, 96-89, sa Game Two ng kanilang quarterfinals series sa 2015 PBA Commissioner’s Cup kagabi sa Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Winalis ng Hotshots ang Aces, 2-0, sa kanilang best-of-three quarterfinals showdown para labanan ang Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters sa best-of-five semifinals wars.
Nauna nang sinibak ng Talk ‘N Text ang Barako Bull, 127-97.
Nakahugot ang Purefoods kay import Denzel Bowles ng 32 points kasunod ang 16 ni Joe Devance.
Sa ikalawang laro, bumangon ang No. 5 Meralco mula sa 20-point deficit sa third period para talunin ang No. 4 NLEX sa overtime, 91-85, at walisin ang kanilang serye.
Lalabanan ng Bolts ang Rain o Shine sa semis.
Samantala, isang referee ang sinuspinde ni PBA Commissioner Chito Salud dahil sa kabiguang tawagan ng 24-second shot clock violation ang Barangay Ginebra sa 91-92 pagkatalo nito sa Rain or Shine noong Sabado.
“A closer look at the play shows that Jeff Chan tapped the ball from Michael Dunigan with .2 second left on the shot clock. When the ball was tapped away from the hands of Dunigan, this in itself did not constitute a loss of possession on the part of the offensive team and therefore did not stop the shot clock from counting down,” sabi ng PBA.
Sa natitirang 4.9 segundo ay naagaw ni Chan ang bola mula kay Dunigan patungo sa kanyang fastbreak lay-up para sa panalo ng Elasto Painters.
Bago pa man matapik ni Chan ang bola mula kay Dunigan ay dapat na tumawag ng 24-second shotclock violation ang mga referees.
PUREFOODS 96 – Bowles 32, Devance 16, Barroca 14, Yap 11, Mallari 7, Pingris 6, Maliksi 6, Simon 3, Melton 1, Reavis 0, Pennisi 0.
Alaska 89 – Jazul 22, James 21, Abueva 14, Casio 10, Thoss 8, Baguio 7, Banchero 3, Manuel 2, Hontiveros 2, Exciminiano 0, Menk 0, Dela Cruz 0, Baclao 0.
Quarterscores: 30-21; 46-43; 70-55; 96-89.
MERALCO 91 – David 31, Davis 25, Hugnatan 17, Hodge 6, Cortez 4, Ferriols 4, Ildefonso 2, Caram 2, Reyes 0, Wilson 0, Anthony 0, Macapagal 0.
NLEX 85 – Thornton 32, Raymundo 12, Villanueva J. 12, Taulava 10, Cardona 6, Villanueva E. 4, Canaleta 3, Borboran 3, Apinan 3, Lingganay 0, Ramos 0.
Quarterscores: 20-17; 41-32; 66-53; 82-82; 91-85 (OT). (RC)