Though Purefoods had been out in the cold, Rosegreen did just that last night with his high-octane performance carrying the Hotdogs past the Shell Turbochargers, 79-75, and into a graceful exit in the Samsung PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Philsports Arena.
Rosegreen was a class act in his farewell game in the tourney, erupting for 31 points, including the bulk of baskets in a decisive fourth-quarter run the Hotdogs used to repulse the Turbochargers.
The former University of Nevada standout under coach Bill Bayno scored all but nine of Purefoods’ 23 points in the payoff period. And aside from that point production, Rosegreen also tallied 15 rebounds, five assists and three steals.
Vergel Meneses made a show of his own in his first game against his former team Barangay Ginebra, leading the FedEx Express to a 107-91 bashing of the Kings for No. 6 seeding in the quarterfinals.
Meneses was like a man in mission, putting a big hand in their massacre of the Kings. Ginebra ended up dead-last in the tourney with only two wins to show in 10 games.
The flamboyant one-time MVP awardee, who finished with 18 points, three rebounds and two assists, and his new team mangled the Kings with a rip-roaring offense. They went 9-of-15 from the three-point arc in the first half alone.
Closing out their own stint in the tourney with back-to-back wins over the Red Bull Thunder and the Turbochargers, the Hotdogs took the door with their heads held high and with great hopes of redemption in the All-Filipino.
"Bawi na lang kami sa All-Filipino. Laban na siguro uli kami doon dahil tatlong players (Andy Seigle, Noy Castillo and Boyet Fernandez) ang babalik sa amin from the national team," said Ryan Gregorio at the end of his stint as interim Purefoods mentor.