Thursday, March 08, 2007 Air21 Express opens bid with win over Sta. Lucia
THE Air21 Express hurdled a 14-point second half deficit and a tentative start of their import to log a conference-opening win yesterday over the Sta. Lucia Realtors in the PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.
Gary David, who scored only seven points in the opening half, suddenly exploded for the boys of Express coach Bo Perasol as he finished the game with 25 points, grabbed nine rebounds and went 7-of-8 from the free throw area to lead his team to victory and snare the Best Player of the Game award.
The bulky Shawn Daniels also contributed for the Express’ victory as he recovered from a sluggish start to chip in 13 points, 15 boards and two assists for his team.
Coaching debut
Two other Express, Wynne Arboleda and Arwind Santos, also logged in double-digit scores for the team as they contributed 12 markers apiece to frustrate the coaching debut of Boyet Fernandez on the part of the Realtors.
The win, though, didn’t come easy for the Express as they trailed the Realtors almost entirely all throughout before a breakthrough rally in the final canto changed the complexion of the game.
The Realtors posted an early 22-15 at the end of the opening period before extending this to 46-36 at the bend with Dennis Espino and Marlou Aquino at the helm of the offense.
The Realtors managed to increase their edge to 14 points at the start of the third canto, this time with import Rock Anthony Winston leading Sta. Lucia’s charge, but the Express managed to trim their deficit to six, 69-75, entering the final quarter.
The Express completed their comeback in the opening minutes of the final quarter after David tied the count at 80-all but the Realtors regained the lead, 87-82, after a short run anchored on Kenneth Duremdes.
But that was the last time Sta. Lucia saw the light of day as the Express unleashed a game-breaking rally in the ensuing minute to overtake the Realtors in the last two minutes. (JSV)
