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Monday, March 13, 2006
Pals still nil; Coke on top
By Jade S. Violeta
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
THE Air21 Express handed the Talk ’N Text Phone Pals their second consecutive loss in the conference after surviving a tight battle in the waning seconds to eke out a 105-102 victory yesterday in the Gran Matador Brandy PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
In the second game, the Barangay Ginebra Kings joined the Coca-Cola Tigers atop the heap after scoring a 98-93 come-from-behind win over the Sta. Lucia Realtors.
Rommel Adducul bagged the Best Player of the Game award after he nailed 21 points, grabbed 19 rebounds and made one block, while Mark Caguioa and JJ Helterbrand chipped in 21 and 19 points, respectively.
Air21 came out steadier in the endgame as it evened its win-loss record to 1-1 after a dismal debut loss.
With both teams figuring in a fierce and furious duel, the Express suddenly surged ahead with a 94-88 lead in the last three minutes and two seconds of the fourth canto after a short 8-to-2 spurt.
Not yet out
The Express, which gained its first semifinals appearance in the league as they bundled out the favored Pals in four games in their best-of-five playoff in the previous conference, thought the Phone Pals were already finished in the game.
It turned out wrong as Jimmy Alapag almost single-handedly brought his team back into contention as the Phone Pals tied the count at 97 with 1:31 remaining with Alapag scoring eight points, including a trey in a 9-to-3 blitz.
Niño Cañaleta, however, surprised everybody including his teammates as he banged in a loud trey in the return play and Ranidel de Ocampo completed the short burst with a jam as the Express moved ahead, 102-97, with a minute to go.
Asi Taulava snipped the Express’ lead to a single point, 101-102, after making three out of four free throws with time down to 17 seconds.
Winnie Arboleda split his charities for the Express in the ensuing play for a 103-101 edge.
Missed chance
The Phone Pals could’ve tied the game in the next play, but Willie Miller split his charities as Ren-ren Ritualo went to the free-throw area in Air21’s next possession.
Ritualo made his first shot and missed the second, but nobody from Talk ’N Text boxed out Ritualo after the miss, paving for the latter to secure the rebound and a second trip to the free-throw line after he was fouled with 10 seconds to go.
Ritualo again bungled one of his two free throws but extended Air21’s edge to three points.
The Phone Pals could have extended the game into overtime as Miller connected what looked like a buzzer-beating trey. A replay of the video, however, showed that Miller’s shot was late.
Cañaleta was named Best Player of the Game as he established a new career-high 18 points, including a perfect 3-of-3 3-point shooting, and grabbed four caroms.
Former Phone Pals Yancy de Ocampo and Mark Clemence Telan also made big contributions for the Express as they logged in a combined 30 points and 19 rebounds, while Ritualo chipped in 18 points and five boards.
The Phone Pals were headed by Jimmy Alapag, who scored 30 points, and Taulava, who made 22 markers and grabbed 19 rebounds.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (March 13, 2006 issue)
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