Thursday, June 19, 2008 Thomas powers Air 21 Express past luckless Welcoat, 91-87
MANILA - Six-foot-9 import Steven Thomas showed his true worth as he scored 29 points to lift the Air 21 Express to a 91-87 win over the Welcoat Dragons yesterday in the 2008 Smart-PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.
Thomas’ heroism, which regained the Express’s hold of the solo leadership with 10-6 slate, assured themselves of a quarterfinals slot and moved them just two wins away from clinching the first automatic semifinal slot.
It also spoiled the return of Alex Comption to active duty as a replacement for import Corey Santee, who was sent home following a dismal performance in their game against Alaska when he scored only three points last June 11.
The Dragons, which only joined the professional league in 2006, dropped to 4-12 card, just a win up over their three-win production in the same conference last year.
And with only two matches left in their elimination round assignment, the Express appeared headed towards making it to the semifinal round for the first time since 2001.
Their only stumbling block are Red Bull and Coca-Cola, which bears identical 9-6 record and defending champion Alaska, which is 8-6 after 14 games.
“We are not yet there, but we are very close to it already. We have to do more and be more prepared every game,” said coach Bo Perasol, whose last assignments will be against Magnolia and Purefoods. (FCC)
