Sunday, August 17, 2008 Air21 guns for 1st title By Frank C. Calapre Sun.Star Correspondent
MANILA—The Air21 Express will go for their first ever title since joining the pro-league in 2002 when they face Barangay Ginebra today in Game 6 of the best-of-seven championship series for the 2008 Smart-PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.
Coach Bo Perasol said they will give everything they’ve got in the sixth game to avoid a sudden death match on Wednesday, which he said may be more advantagious for the Kings because of their vast experience in a long series.
“We will avoid Game 7. Their (Kings) experience is a big advantage over us if it will reach a rubber match. I hope we can end the series on Sunday,” said Perasol, whose Express escaped a 76-73 win over the Kings last Friday to take a 3-2 edge.
It was the lowest scoring and most defensively-fought game in the series, where the Express held the Kings scoreless in the last 2:50 to have the last laugh in defense after both team battled through three deadlocks and two lead changes in the 4th quarter alone.
Air 21’s physical defense limited Ginebra to 0 in four attempts in the field and forced the Kings into three turnovers, which the Express translated into big points, thanks to 6-foot-3 Arwind Santos, who was responsible for two of those three turnovers.
What added more luster to the game was the 73 points by the Kings was their lowest this conference while Air 21’s 76 was also their lowest ouput since May 28, 2006.
Lowest
It was the lowest scoring game in the conference and in a PBA title series since San Miguel Beer defeated Talk ‘N Text, 74-66, in Game 1 of the 2005 Fiesta Conference Finals.
Violet balloons and confetti hanging in the rafters may be a distraction but it will be surely be there, according to Perasol.
“We’ll be happy if we get it Sunday,” said the outspoken Air21 mentor.
The Kings won Game 1 (105-96) and Game 4 (90-77), while the Express dominated Game 2 (124-90) and Game 3 (97-87).
