Mixers favorites over Express

TALK ‘N Text import Richard Howell swipes the ball from a driving Ryan Araña of Rain or Shine in the game that was still being played at press time last night at Smart Araneta Coliseum. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

MANILA, Philippines — San Mig Coffee and Air21 clash in Game 1 of their best-of-five series in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Tuesday, with the Express raring to show that they deserve their deep place in the playoffs.

“We’re the gatecrashers here,” Air21 coach Franz Pumaren said Friday night after a double overtime victory that bundled out the second-seeded San Miguel Beermen. “We will keep doing what we can and enjoy this.”

Gametime is 8 p.m. at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay with the Express hoping that their short rotation would be enough to battle such a playoff-toughened San Mig on even terms.

Asi Taulava and Sean Anthony have been the biggest reasons why the Express have made it this far, and their work will only get tougher against the fully loaded Mixers.

Air21 was able to stay close—and win over the Beermen—because San Miguel’s bread-and-butter offensive was anchored mainly on the 6-foot-10 June Mar Fajardo.

And with Taulava able to match up against Fajadro and Anthony disrupting point guard Chris Ross’ orchestration of the San Miguel offense, the Express were able to hold sway.

But against the Mixers, there won’t be just one formidable man in the middle each time and there won’t be just one point guard who can direct the plays.

Wesley Witherspoon will have to step up offensively for the Express, who would need something similar to his 44-point debut, in order to open up the San Mig defense.

Mac Cardona and Joseph Yeo, Pumaren’s former players at La Salle in the UAAP, will also play major minutes for the Express.

Peter June Simon, James Yap and Marc Pingris will lead San Mig’s big-time playoff players, with Joe Devance, Alex Mallari and point guard Mark Barroca expected to serve as key cogs.

Meanwhile, because of their sterling performances against the Beermen, Anthony and Taulava were named co-winner of the Player of the Week award of Accel and the PBA Press Corps.

Anthony normed 21.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals against the Beermen, with Taulava turning back the hands of time to shoot 16.5 points, grab 8.5 rebounds and swat away 1.5 enemy shots in 37 minutes of play.