Asi Taulava of Air21 (light) vs Danny Ildefonso of Meralco (dark). NUKI SABIO/PBA
MANILA, Philippines — Dominique Sutton and Asi Taulava were a handful in the paint on both ends as Air21 beat Meralco, 80-67, in the 2014 PBA Governors’ Cup Wednesday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Sutton was everywhere with 25 points, 18 rebounds, three assists and three blocks while Taulava also had a double-double with 22 points and 16 rebounds for the Express, who hiked their record to 4-2 tying idle San Miguel Beer and just half a game behind league-leaders Barangay Ginebra, Talk ‘N Text and San Mig Coffee.
“After our defensive effort against Talk ‘N Text, the best thing for us to do right now is to concentrate on our defense we won our previous three games because we did those little things we want to outhustle the other teams,” said Air21 coach Franz Pumaren.
“I’m not saying this because he’s our import but I think in terms of defense, he is comparable to Marqus Blakely. Every time he guards the import he limits the import to his lowest output,” Pumaren said of Sutton.
Sutton, who had 17 points in the second half, held the usually high-scoring import Mario West to only 16 points on a dismal seven-of-29 shooting from the field.
“We get that energy coming from him by playing hard-nosed defense.”
The scoring picked up for both teams in the second half where the Express scored 54 points after putting up just 26 in the first two quarters where they led the Bolts by three.
Air21 led by as much as 16 points in the fourth quarter. Meralco cut it to seven twice before Sutton put the game away, 74-63, with 1:27 left.
Cliff Hodge paced the Bolts, who lost for the fifth time in six outings to fall at the bottom of the standings together with Barako Bull at 1-5.
The Express continued their winning ways despite not having key forward Sean Anthony since last conference’s semifinals due to a foot injury.
But with four days off, Pumaren is hoping Anthony could at least get a feel of the hardcourt on Monday against the Mixers.
“It’s a day-to-say thing. The four days will help us get him back,” said Pumaren. “There’s no pain at all right now so that’s a good sign right now. Hopefully he can be available by Monday.”
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