Giant-size fightback sinks Aces

The Purefoods Chunkee Giants pounced on Artemus McClary’s early exit due to injury and overcame two 29-point deficits in pulling off a dramatic 86-84 overtime win over Alaska Milk in the San Mig Coffee PBA Fiesta Cup at the Astrodome last night.

Noy Castillo and Marquin Chandler combined for a give-and-go play to force the overtime at 82-all and the Purefoods Chunkee import came up with more crucial plays in the extra period as the Giants completed the stirring come-from-behind victory.

It was only the third win of Purefoods over Alaska in their last 13 games.

"It was a big relief for us that McClary wasn’t there (at the finish). We just couldn’t find the answer against him," said Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio. "The win was doubly sweet because we haven’t beaten Alaska in a long while."

Gregorio nearly lost hope when they fell behind by 29 points at 25-54 and 27-56 early in the third quarter with McClary wreaking havoc on the court.

Calling a timeout, Gregorio told his boys to just work hard to bring their deficit down for quotient purposes in the team standings.

But the Giants made a tremendous comeback at endgame pounding the McClary-less Aces with still 1:21 left in the third period.

Alaska coach Tim Cone actually sent back in McClary with the Giants having come within three at 76-79 with 55 seconds to go. But Cone’s move backfired as Roger Yap stole off McClary and gained a trip at the stripe on a foul by the limping Alaska import himself.

McClary sat out the rest of the game after that.

The Giants eventually drew level at 80-all on a triple by James Yap but could only have their first taste of the lead at 84-82 on a layup by Marc Pingris in overtime.

Chandler fed Pingris for that layup then scored on a running jumper moments later as the Giants took a decisive 86-82 advantage.

Alaska made its first and only basket in overtime on a drive by Jeffrey Cariaso with time down to 29 seconds.

After a missed jumper by Chandler, Cariaso took matters into his hands but misfired a triple at the buzzer.

Mark Caguioa exploded for 34 points and Barangay Ginebra spoiled the return of Mick Pennisi in the Red Bull Barako lineup, scoring a 93-82 win in the second game.

Pennisi was cleared by the Department of Justice a few days back and completed his requirements as a foreign-born player in the league yesterday, paving the way for his PBA comeback.

McClary had made big efforts, giving Alaska the cushion before taking an early rest. The former PBA Best Import awardee, who had a triple-double showing against Red Bull Sunday, narrowly missed another triple-double with 27 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

McClary went to work early, logging 21 points, eight assists, five rebounds, three steals and two blocks as the Aces took a 51-25 bulge at the half.

Rich Alvarez scored a charity then McClary pumped in a short jumper to start the final half, giving Alaska its first of two 29-point spreads at 54-25.