FOR the first time in its franchise history, the Air21 Express has finally bagged an automatic slot to the quarterfinals after they skidded past the San Miguel Beermen in a cardiac finish yesterday, 103-99, in the 2007 Talk ‘N Text-PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.
For several conferences now, the Express contented itself to settling for a playoff in the wildcard phase. But that all changed yesterday after Air21 survived a tightly-fought match with the Beermen to advance into the quarterfinals.
“Just the thought of going through the wildcard phase makes me puke. I’m just glad we were able to get through it,” Air21 coach Bo Perasol told www.pba.ph after their win.
The Beermen, for their part, will be relegated to the wildcard phase along with Coca-Cola, Purefoods and Sta. Lucia with the Tigers squaring off against the Giants and the Realtors against the Beermen. Both will be knockout games.
Leader
Arwind Santos led four other Express players who finished with double digit scores, as he connected with 23 markers and grabbed seven rebounds in 31 minutes of play to be chosen Best Player of the Game.
Import Shawn Daniels also chipped in big for the Express as the burly workhorse tallied 22 points, hauled down 12 rebounds, made five assists and five blocks, while Niño Cañaleta contributed 19 points, three rebounds and one assist.
Aggresiveness
Also logging in double digit scores for Air21 were Aries Dimaunahan, who finished with 18 baskets, and Mark Telan, who inked 14 points and grabbed seven caroms.
The Express showed their aggressiveness in the first two quarters of the game as they took a 23-21 edge at the end of the opening period and finished the half with a 53-50 advantage.
But the Beermen grabbed the momentum of the game in the third canto after Danny Ildefonso began hitting his marks to allow San Miguel to take a 75-70 lead entering the final phase.
A see-saw battle ensued in the fourth period and the Beermen had their last taste of the lead at 99-98 with one minute and seven seconds remaining before the Express bounced back to score five straight points to seal the win.
Air21 (103)—Santos 23, Daniels 22, Canaleta 19, Dimaunahan 18, Telan 14, Se 4, Andaya 3, Marquez 0, Torion 0, Arboleda 0. San Miguel Beer (99)—Young 31, Ildefonso 19, Gonzales 10, Cablay 9, Villanueva 7, Tenorio 6, Pena 6, Racela 4, Espinas 3, Wilson 2, Calaguio 2. (JSV)
