Monday, January 21, 2008 Coca Cola boots out Air21, faces Alaska in quarterfinals
MANILA The Coca Cola Tigers survived a searing rally by the Air21 Express to pull a 109-102 win yesterday and clinched the fourth and last quarterfinals berth in the 33rd Smart-PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Asi Taulava, John Arigo and Chester Tolomia combined for 53 points to lead the Tigers hard-earned triumph that practically eliminated Air21 in the race for the crown.
“I really believed, we are very blessed by having this opportunity to reach the quarterfinals. So now, we have to go through with it and play our best always,” said Coca-Cola head coach Benky Favis.
The Tigers, who made it to the best-of-three quarterfinals for the first time via the wildcard phase after their automatic entry last year, will then face no. 3 team Alaska in the next round at 4:50 p.m. starting on Wednesday at the same venue.
“I’m very glad, we are given the chance. I saw my players are very happy after giving all their bests in the game,” added Favis.
Taulava, John Arigo and Cabagnot used a big 21-point lead in the second period to caution a blazing run by the Express, who have been in the wildcard phase for the sixth time since it was introduced in 2004.
Arigo topscored for the Tigers with 23 points, while Taulava added 17 on top of 12 rebounds. Tolomia finished with 13.
Nino Canaleta led the Express with 21 points followed by Homer Se with 20, while Gary David had 13.
After a see-saw battle in the first period, Arigo came in and exploded for 15 points, 9 in the three-point arc to put the Tigers on top by a big 15 points, 38-23, still 8:25 remaining in the second quarter.
Arigo’s three straight triples moved the Tigers, who are now 8-4 since acquiring Asi Taulava on Nov. 26, to their biggest lead, 47-26, still 5:44 left in the period.
The Tigers, who were playing in a sudden death match for the third time in the last four conferences, shot better in the field with 51.1 percent, while the Express could only settle with 42.9 percent on 12 of 28 attempts.
Aside from Arigo, rookie Alex Cabagnot, Aris Dimaunahan and Jason Misolas contributed much in the Tigers blazing surge in the first half, combining for 20 points in the Tigers’ 23-8 run that made the match a lopsided affair.
