Playing with pride - SPORTING CHANCE by Joaquin M. Henson

For Purefoods, it was a pride thing. No Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) team relishes the thought of getting blanked in the Finals. And the Tender Juicy Hot Dogs would’ve gone down in ignominy if San Miguel Beer won Game 4 of their best-of-7 Governors Cup title series at the Big Dome last Sunday.

The season’s largest crowd turned out to witness Purefoods survive a do-or-die battle for a new lease on life.

Surprisingly, San Miguel didn’t seem too interested in putting Purefoods out of its misery. The Beermen lacked intensity. The desire wasn’t evident in the stats. Purefoods badly outrebounded San Miguel, 47-30, and scored a bundle more in second chance points, 21-2, on an eye-popping 19-9 edge in offensive boards. Coach Joseph Uichico’s charges also had more turnovers, 17-12, and gave up 10 more free throws than they took.

Purefoods coach Derick Pumaren capitalized on the Hot Dogs’ strength – the frontline where his boys enjoy a decided advantage in height. Andy Seigle and E. J. Feihl put on their hard hats to collar 16 rebounds together. They also delivered a combined 25 points. Danny Ildefonso, San Miguel’s No. 1 offensive option, looked lost in the fray and finished with a quiet four points.

Pumaren’s brother Dindo finally broke out of his shell and asserted his leadership on the floor. He collected 12 points, eight assists, and three rebounds in 32 minutes — outdueling Olsen Racela in their personal faceoff.

Although San Miguel still leads the series, 3-1, Purefoods isn’t ready to fold up. No team has come back from a 0-3 deficit to win a title and the task of beating the Beermen four in a row is daunting. But Pumaren isn’t looking that far ahead. He’s content to take each game as it comes. Tomorrow, Pumaren will look to survive another death match.

Sure, San Miguel swept the first three games but none was a cakewalk. In fact, each game had an average of 7.7 deadlocks and 11.3 lead changes — that’s how close it’s been. If Purefoods held on to take Game 3, the series would be tied going into Game 5.

If the Beermen think that Purefoods will simply roll over and die, they’re in for a shock.

The Hot Dogs are a proud bunch and they’re no pushovers. This is Purefoods’ second Finals appearance this season, duplicating San Miguel’s feat. If there’s a team that can stand up to San Miguel in the face of tough odds, it’s Purefoods.

Ildefonso has been a big mystery in the Finals. He’s scored in twin digits only once in four games so far. In Game 4, Pumaren didn’t bother putting Andy Seigle on Ildefonso and instead tapped Alvin Patrimonio who’s more effective defending inside than outside because physicality, not quickness, is the defining factor. Pumaren sent Seigle to match up against younger brother Danny and that gambit paid off.

Five Hot Dogs scored in double figures last Sunday and two more chipped in at least eight points as Purefoods’ balanced attack kept San Miguel’s defense guessing. Only Lamont Strothers, Danny Seigle, and Boybits Victoria hit in twin digits for San Miguel.

Clearly, the championship isn’t just going to land on San Miguel’s lap even if the Beermen need to win only once more to clinch. Uichico’s boys can’t afford a repeat of their lackluster showing in Game 4 because the Hot Dogs are itching for payback.

For San Miguel to win tomorrow, the Beermen must play with poise. Ildefonso must show his MVP form, the defense must limit Derrick Brown to the low 20s and Purefoods to less than 90, and the Hot Dogs can’t lord it over the offensive boards like they did in Game 4.

For Purefoods to survive, the Hot Dogs must continue to play with pride, they’ve got to force San Miguel to try to win from the perimeter, their pressure defense must click to disrupt San Miguel’s slowdown tempo, and their big men must dominate the boards. Expect a war in Game 5.