Monday, December 03, 2007 Hail Santos for scoring heights
ANTIPOLO CITY—Arwind Santos fired a game high 29 points to key Air21 Express’ 88-80 triumph over the Welcoat Dragons last night in the 2007 Smart-PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Sports Center here.
The Express, down most of the way, needed a big defensive job from Ranidel de Ocampo, Santos and Wynne Arboleda in the crucial stretch to hold the Dragons scoreless in the last 4:17 of the match en route to their fifth win in 10 matches.
Welcoat, which won only four games in its debut last year, had several opportunities to regain the lead, but a flagrant foul by Nick Belasco off de Ocampo with only 49 seconds left, allowed the Express to escape with the victory in their first meeting with the Dragons this conference.
Both teams will again meet for the second round of the elimination phase on Jan. 19.
Aside from posting his new career-high 29 points, the 6-foot-3 Santos, the 2004 MVP of the UAAP, likewise pulled down 16 rebounds in his first double-double performance in the All-Filipino conference.
Air21 coach Bo Perasol likewise praised the Dragons for their gallant stand even with the absence of four key players due to injury.
With the loss, Welcoat dropped to 3-8 win-loss slate, just a game ahead over cellar dweller Barangay Ginebra, which is toting a 2-8 card.
‘They (Welcoat) played well tonight. We were just lucky, we had the breaks in the crucial stretch of the game,” said Perasol.
Despite the absence of key players Jay-Arr Reyes, Rob Wainwright, Froilan Baguion and Julius Tangkay, the Dragons started strong as they took an early 15-4 upperhand in the first seven minutes of the match.
Welcoat, which already at least surpassed its 2-win output in the same conference last year, widened the gap to a big 11-point, 18-7, courtesy of Ryan Arana and Nick Belasco, who combined for six points with still 2:23 remaining in the first period.
Joe Devance, the 6-foot-7 Fil-Am top pick in the rookie draft last August, scored two triples to maintain a double-digit lead, 23-11, for the sophomore Dragons at the end of the first quarter.
But Santos scored six straight points to cut down the deficit to only eight points and both teams exchanged series of 8-0 runs to close the half with the Dragons on top by a mere six points, 43-37.
And with the 6-foot-6 Belasco already saddled with four fouls, the Express feasted on it with a fiery 19-9 rally anchored on Santos to regain the lead for only the second time, 56-52, still 3:06 left in the third period. (FCC)
