GAMES TODAY (Araneta Coliseum)
4 p.m.—Sta. Lucia vs Red Bull
6:30 p.m.—Purefoods vs Alaska
LUCENA CITY, Philippines—Gary David scored 27 points and Ranidel de Ocampo added 19 as Air21 bounced back from a bitter, disputed loss by ending Rain or Shine’s two-game run, 106-103, Saturday night at a jampacked road game of the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Quezon Convention Center here.
David and De Ocampo nailed two free throws each inside the final 50 seconds as the Express broke a 100-all tie to also snap a two-game slide, rise to 4-5, and put themselves in the middle of the pack after their first round schedule.
The Elasto Painters started out hot but weren’t able to hold off the Express when it mattered as Rain or Shine, despite the loss, remained in third place at 5-4.
“We need victories like this one, like we need losses like that one (on Wednesday against San Miguel) to build our character,” Air21 coach Bo Perasol told the Inquirer, referring to their protested 130-129 double overtime loss to the Beermen.
“It (San Miguel loss) just made the boys stick together and play even harder,” Perasol added.
League commissioner Sonny Barrios, who went to the Air21 practice at Xavier on Friday, will come up with a decision on whether or not to order a replay of that game tomorrow at the latest.
Barangay Ginebra finally snapped out of the rut despite blowing a big, early lead, getting the baskets that mattered from Jay-Jay Helterbrand in an 81-77 victory over Coca-Cola in the second game.
Helterbrand scored 28 points in 38 minutes, including seven of the last 10 to finish as the only Gin King in twin digits as Ginebra ended a five-game losing streak to rise to 3-5 and climb out of the cellar.
Coca-Cola lost for the first time in three games and second in Kenneth Duremdes’ first four games as interim coach as the Tigers dropped to a similar 3-5 slate.
The Express put the game against San Miguel under protest when replays showed De Ocampo making a three-pointer, which referee Mario Montiel ruled as a two-point shot, in the final 9.8 seconds of the first overtime.
Had that shot been counted as a three, the Express would have taken a 123-122 lead with that little time left and prevent a second extension.
The scores:
First Game
AIR21 106—David 27, De Ocampo 19, Kramer 13, Arboleda 10, Billones 8, Canalet 8, Santos 6, Quinahan 6, Se 6, Intal 3, Cruz 0, Sta. Maria 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 103—Reyes 22, Mercado 15, Norwood 12, Salangsang 11, Tang 11, Arana 10, Wainwright 9, Isip 6, Ibañez 4, Laure 3.
Quarters: 24-30, 48-all, 75-78, 106-103
Second Game
BARANGAY GINEBRA 81—Helterbrand 28, Tubid 8, Salvacion 8, Pacana 8, Artadi 8, Menk 6, Mamaril 4, Crisano 4, Escalona 4, Wilson 2, Cabatu 1, Holper 0.
COCA-COLA 77—Belasco 22, Taulava 19, Cabagnot 13, Catli 9, Macapagal 6, Relan 4, Calimag 2, Arigo 0, Baguion 0, Dimaunahan 0.
Quarters: 21-18, 46-29, 61-56, 81-77
