Hotdogs repulse G. Kings

ZAMBOANGA -- Purefoods rebounded from a sorry loss to Pop Cola the last time out as it repulsed Barangay Ginebra, 92-80, in their out-of-town game in the Alaxan PBA All-Filipino Cup at the Summit Center here last night.

The Hotdogs employed a pressing defense to rattle the Gin Kings and caught up with the San Miguel Beermen at second place in the standings on their third win in four outings.

The Gin Kings fell to sixth place on their third straight defeat following two successive wins.

The Hotdogs worked on a well-balanced game but Alvin Patrimonio emerged the team's big hero as the four-time MVP awardee knocked in nine points in the last quarter, including a three-point play after the Gin Kings came within seven points in the last four minutes of play.

Patrimonio quelled Ginebra's fourth-quarter rally with his nine-point fourth-quarter explosion highlighting his 21-point game.

Andy Seigle, Rey Evangelista, Noy Castillo and Dindo Pumaren also played big for Purefoods, all hitting 10 points or more.

Vergel Meneses scored 18 points to pace the Gin Kings who also drew double-digit outputs from Jun Limpot and Elmer Lago with 14 points apiece, Bal David with 13 and Ronald Magtulis with 12.

The Hotdogs took control practically throughout, leading by eight at 20-12 at the end of the first quarter, six at 43-37 at halftime and by 10 at 69-59 after the third period.

Meanwhile, Shell Velocity takes on San Miguel Beer in the 4:15 p.m. curtain-raiser, then Alaska and Pop Cola square off at 6:30 at the resumption of play at the Araneta Coliseum today.

Among the four, only the Beermen have been living up to expectation, stringing up three straight wins following a losing debut versus the Purefoods Hotdogs to stay close behind the Rhum Masters atop the chart.

A big revelation is Pop Cola which charged into the thick of things following back-to-back gripping triumphs over Ginebra and Purefoods.

The same can't be said of Alaska and Shell, among the league's best performers last season, which are off to a struggling start this time.

"We're not doing things that should be done. We're playing tight and I really don't know if we can get over the hump," said Alaska coach Tim Cone after suffering a 65-82 blowout to Tanduay last week.

"This is not sour-graping but I really believe this is no longer the same team as last year," said Shell coach Perry Ronquillo, who has yet to taste a lone win with a lineup minus Vic Pablo and Noy Castillo.

The Zoom Masters are winless in three starts and - woe to them - they have the streaking Beermen as their rivals in their bid to finally check into the win-column today.

"Surely, that will be a tough game. We have to come out of our shell if we're to beat them," said Ronquillo.