Cola Tigers overcame a 14-point deficit to squeak past the Purefoods TJ Giants, 103-102, after two overtime periods Wednesday night in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup. The Giants could have further extended the game into a third overtime, but Peter June Simon missed a free throw, thus allowing the Tigers to notch their first win in the conference after two losses. In the second game of the double-header played at the Araneta Coliseum, the San Miguel Beermen held off the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 89-82, for their second win in three games. Leading all the way, the Beermen suddenly found themselves in deep trouble in the fourth quarter when the Elasto Painters uncorked a 13-0 blitz to move within one, 68-67. But San Miguel proved steadier in the end as veterans Dondon Hontiveros, Lordy Tugade and Olsen Racela knocked in clutch baskets to frustrate the upstart Rain or Shine squad. The win allowed San Miguel to tie Rain or Shine and Talk N Text at 2-1 behind the 2-0 slates of Alaska and Fiesta Conference champions Barangay Ginebra. Earlier, Asi Taulava, Nic Belasco and Mark Clemence Telan led the Tigers' assault against the Giants in the two extension periods. Belasco scored 10 of his 20 points in the two OTs. Taulava also finished with 20 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists while Telan had 14 points. But it was Mark Macapagal who ensured the Coca-Cola victory as he had a crucial steal and scored what proved to be the game-winning free throw in the last 10 seconds of the second overtime period as the Tigers led the Giants, 103-99. Still, Peter June Simon had the chance to send the game into a third overtime after he was fouled while taking a three-point shot that went in with only eight-tenths of a second remaining. Simon, who went 5-of-6 from the stripe in Purefoods' first two games, however, missed the free throw as the Giants went down to their second defeat in three games. Taulava scored two free throws with 26 seconds to send the game into a second overtime, 91-91. Earlier, he missed mid-range shots at the end of regulation and the first overtime that could have won it outright for the Tigers. Purefoods lost despite the 29 points unloaded by James Yap. The game marked the first overtime period for the league's new season and the first double-overtime match since 2003. The win was Coca-Cola's first in their last four Philippine Cup meetings with Purefoods. The scores: Coca-Cola 103 - Taulava 20, Belasco 20, Arigo 15, Telan 14, Macapagal 13, Cabagnot 10, Buenafe 5, Rizada 5, Calimag 1, Baguion 0, Dimaunahan 0. Purefoods 102 - Yap J. 29, Villanueva 24, Simon 22, Raymundo 12, Aban 7, Yap R. 7, Bugia 1, Lanete 0, Salvador 0. Quarters: 24-20, 30-40, 52-65, 81-81; 91-91; 103-102. __
