The Purefoods TJ Giants dominated the offensive boards for easy putback shots enroute to a 94-82 bashing of the San Miguel Beermen Friday night at the Araneta Coliseum in the pivotal Game 5 of their semifinals series in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup. The younger, taller and more energetic Giants quickly seized the initiative in the first quarter and never let up until the final buzzer, burying the apparently shell-shocked Beermen in a flurry of baskets to take a 3-2 lead in their semifinals duel. Roger Yap and Kerby Raymundo topscored with 18 points apiece while James Yap had 17 markers. Roger Yap added seven rebounds and six assists to his personal stats while Raymundo had eight rebounds. Jay Washington was the leading scorer for San Miguel with 21 points. He also had seven rebounds. Purefoods can wrap up the series with a victory against San Miguel Sunday at the Cuneta Astrodome. If the Giants prevail anew, they will head on into a best-of-seven Finals against the Alaska Aces. However, if the Beermen manage to find an answer to negate the Giants' crippling defense and vaunted firepower Sunday, they will play a do-or-die Game 7 Wednesday. The Giants also emphatically defeated the Beermen last Wednesday, 84-97, in Game 4 of their series. The Beermen fought with grim determination Friday night but the Giants proved to be steadier and stronger. KG Canaleta also shone for the Giants, firing 10 points in the third quarter to ward off the rallying Beermen. The former UE stalwart drained 2-of-3 from the three-point area and 2-of-2 from the free-throw line in just five minutes of action in that period. San Miguel suffered its second straight loss as they were clobbered in shooting and rebounding by the more athletic Giants. The Giants shot a sizzling 62.5 percent from the field in the second quarter. Purefoods head coach Ryan Gregorio said he senses that his Giants are on their way to the Finals against the Alaska Aces next week. “We like where we are right now but we have no reason to celebrate until we get that win No. 4,” he said. San Miguel head coach Siot Tanquingcen vowed to give everything they have Sunday to force a sudden
