Joe Devance of San Mig Coffee (light) vs Asi Taulava of Air21 (dark). PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio
MANILA, Philippines — Riding high on its upset of San Miguel Beer in the quarterfinals, Air21 took down another heavyweight in San Mig Coffee, 103-100, at an even bigger stage in Game 1 of their 2014 PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-five semifinals series Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Sean Anthony tied his career-high with 29 points built on five-of-six shooting from the 3-point area in just 25 minutes of action off-the-bench.
“What can I say. I think It’s really a team effort. One thing nice with my team right now, we just don’t wanna quit,” Air21 head coach Franz Pumaren told reporters. “Several times during the course of the game we were down by eight or nine but we just regrouped, we didn’t run away from what we’re supposed to do and we really hustled for the ball.”
“I guess we found something that is suited in what we’re trying to do here in Air21. He gives us a lot of intangibles,” Pumaren said of the hardworking forward Anthony.
The seventh-seeded Express, who remained unbeaten in the playoffs, went on a 10-1 run to lead, 95-88, after Asi Taulava got away with a traveling call on his layup with 1:20 left.
“Asi was just too fast that’s why the refs didn’t see it,” joked Pumaren. “But kidding aside, things like that, it happens in basketball whether it’s traveling or not traveling.”
The Mixers, who were without their head coach Tim Cone in the final minute after the multititled mentor got thrown out, pulled to within three, 100-103, with James Mays scoring his team’s final 13 points.
Mays finished with 27 points, 17 rebounds, six assists, five steals and two blocks but he just couldn’t make the game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer.
“Let’s face it, San Mig is already tired coming off an extended championship in the all-Filipino. We’re lucky that they’re in that kind of situation but it’s so difficult to cut them out,” said Pumaren.
“This is just a small step in this series. We’re just here to seize the moment of being in the semis. In fact we’re the uninvited guest here.”
Game 2 is on Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.