Express, Kings turn back foes

AIR21 guard Simon Atkins is thwarted on the drive by Rain or Shine’s Gabe Norwood in last night’s game at Smart Araneta Coliseum. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

MANILA, Philippines—Air21 got a taste of that winning feeling last PBA conference, and the Express now seem addicted to it.

Breaking away early and then holding off Rain or Shine in the stretch, Air21—the biggest overachiever in the last conference—opened its season-ending Governors’ Cup bid on a high note Tuesday night after a 103-96 win at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“Our mindset now is not just about competing—being happy by losing a game by just a few points,” Air21 coach Franz Pumaren said. “Our goal right now is to make sure that what we accomplished last conference is not a flash in the pan.”

Import Dominique Sutton scored 25 points, 10 rebounds and four assists despite a jetlag, and Asi Taulava tossed in 19 that went with 14 boards and a lot of on-court leadership for the Express, the erstwhile whipping boys who came within a win of the Commissioner’s Cup Finals.

“Once you taste success, it’s so hard to let go,” the 41-year-old Taulava said. “We want to build on that momentum, stay focused and not give the people (the impression) that it (their semifinal stint) was a fluke.”

Joseph Yeo scattered 18 points, including a crucial triple and two free throws that scuttled a pair of rallies by the Elasto Painters in the dying minutes.

Barangay Ginebra, under a rookie coach in Jeffrey Cariaso, also got off to a rip-roaring start by crushing Globalport, 89-71, in the nightcap.

Despite turning the ball over 21 times, the Gin Kings played with command almost the entire game as import Zaccheus Mason and Greg Slaughter completed double-doubles with a combined 40 points and 32 rebounds.

Leroy Hickerson paced the Batang Pier with 30 points, with Alex Cabagnot shooting 21. But Globalport was slowed down by the lack of support, with Jay Washington’s six points the next best offensive output.

Rain or Shine played minus coach Yeng Guiao, who had business to attend to in Chinese Taipei. And the Painters labored hard under a slow start before catching some fire in the latter half of the fourth period to make it close.

The Express broke away from a 9-all game with a 9-0 spurt, before building a 67-50 lead by making the first five points of the third period. Air21 had control until the Painters came within five points with 13 seconds left.

Sutton was impressive, giving the Express another strong inside player who could help Taulava control the paint.

“Basically, we survived (this game) with our import, who just arrived last Thursday,” Pumaren explained. “He just had a few days of practice with us.”

THE SCORES:

AIR 21 103—Sutton 25, Taulava 19, Yeo 18, Ramos 11, Borboran 8, Villanueva 6, Camson 6, Jaime 4, Atkins 3, Cardona 3, Poligrates 0, Burtscher 0.

RAIN OR SHINE 96—Reid 20, Belga 14, Chan 12, Lee 11, Norwood 11, Nuyles 7, Ibanes 6, Arana 5, Almazan 4, Rodriguez 4, Uyloan 2, Tiu 0, Tang 0.

Quarters: 33-24, 62-50, 85-73, 103-96

Second Game

BRGY. GINEBRA 89—Mason 21, Slaughter 19, Caguioa 15, Ellis 10, Aguilar 8, Baracael 7, Monfort 3, Reyes 2, Helterbrand 2, Mamaril 2, Knuttel 0, Tenorio 0, Urbiztondo 0.

GLOBALPORT 71—Hickerson 30, Cabagnot 21, Washington 6, Macapagal 5, Salvador 4, Garcia 3, Menk 2, Matias 0, Taha 0, Ponferrada 0, Salva 0.

Quarters: 18-14, 41-39, 68-56, 89-71