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Monday, December 19, 2005
Air21 blows away top-team Purefoods
AIR21 continued its hot run in the closing stages of the elimination round of the San Mig Coffee PBA Fiesta Cup as the Express bested the league-leading Purefoods Chunkee Giants, 110-109, yesterday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Closing their initial round campaign with a 9-7 win-loss record, the Express of coach Bo Perasol guaranteed themselves an outright quarterfinals berth aside from keeping their chances alive of taking an outright semifinals seat.
Ren-ren Ritualo once again proved that he’s the most potent offensive weapon of the Express as the sharp-shooting off guard finished with 22 points built around a 3-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc and a 5-of-6 clip from the free-throw area.
In the opening game, Kenneth Duremdes rekindled the form that earned him the 1998 MVP, and the Sta. Lucia Realtors cashed in on it.
Duremdes scored 15 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Realtors get past the Coca-Cola Tigers, 100-76.
“This is a very important win for us. I guess this secured our place at No.8 and possibly a chance at No.7,” said Sta. Lucia coach Al Chua, who appeared relieved after the game.
The Express built leads by as many as 28 points in the final half, but the Giants, who are already in the semifinals despite the loss, bravely came back in the dying minutes of the final canto as Peter June Simon and Kerby Raymundo took turns in burning the hoops.
Complement
Two charity throws by Raymundo in the last 1:06 of the game allowed Purefoods to move within striking distance, 100-105,.
The Express, however, kept their poise in front of the relentless Purefoods attack as they responded with three unanswered baskets.
Winnie Arboleda was the perfect complement for Ritualo as he contributed 13 markers and six boards for Air21.
The Realtors ripped a closed game wide open in the fourth quarter as Duremdes got into a zone, knocking down shot after shot that pierced through the hearts the Tigers, who needed to win as badly as Sta. Lucia. (JSV)
(December 19, 2005 issue)
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