Purefoods TJ Giants bench helped came back from a big deficit the whole game to win its third straight game vs Alaska Aces 79-78. Nino Canaleta led the comeback with a 3 pointer and a Big Dunk scoring 8 points on 2 out of 3 from 3-point range and also with the help of Rico Maierhofer (7pts) and Peter June Simon (12pts). James Yap had a bad shooting night going 0-6 from 3 but still scored 14 pts and contributed 4 rebs and 3 asts and Kerby Raymundo (8pts) gave Purefoods a 79-77 lead after a layup with a minute left in the 4th quarter. Willie Miller gets fouled on the next play but makes only 1 free throw to trim the lead, 79-78.

With Purefoods leading by 1 with 3.9 seconds remaining, Alaska had the chance to win the game but Willie Miller misses and time runs out for Alaska and they now have to win 4 straight wins in this Finals because they are now down 3-0 in this series.

This is the first time Purefoods outrebounded Alaska 47-46 with Purefoods having 18 offensive rebounds, 5 each from Rafi Reavis and Marc Pingris. Don Allado made a buzzer beater 3 point shot to end the 1st quarter 21-15 with Alaska leading right from the start.

Game 4 will be on Wednesday, and Purefoods will try to end the series and win an All-Filipino title again.

Game Scores:

Purefoods 79 – Yap J 14, Simon 12, Canaleta 8, Pingris 8, Reavis 8, Raymundo 8, Maierhofer 7, Yap R 5, Allado 5, Salvador 3, Artadi 1.

Alaska 78 – Miller 20, Devance 16, Thoss 12, Dela Cruz 10, Tenorio 8, Hugnatan 6, Ferriols 4, Borboran 2, Fonacier 0.