EXPRESS BRACE FOR TEXTERS’ FIGHTBACK
ONE can’t keep a champion down for long.
That is precisely what Air21 coach Franz Pumaren expects when his Express tangle with a Talk N Text crew bristling to get untracked in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
A victory by Air21 would be its second in as many outings, but Pumaren knows he and his charges would have their hands full against a Tropang Texters squad that opened up its campaign in the mid-season conference with a 92-99 loss to Meralco.
“We just have to prepare for TNT’s strong comeback,” said Pumaren. “We know TNT is a better team from what they showed in their last game.”
So should Air21.
Powered by a versatile import who does it all, the Express pulled the rug from under Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 74-70, last Sunday in a stirring victory that says a lot about the youth-laden team’s steadily improving maturity.
It didn’t hurt that Michael Dunigan, fresh off a stint in the Australian league, debuted with 26 points, 19 rebounds, five blocked shots and three assists while completely outplaying Ginebra counterpart Herbert Hill.
The Express also had their defense kicking in most at the right time, foiling the Kings’ fightback in the stretch.
The Texters were far from sharp against the Bolts in their own initial game.
Keith Benson, a two-time Summit Player of the Year awardee while with Oakland U, had 25 points and 11 rebounds but was far from impressive and often got outplayed by Meralco counterpart Eric Dawson. He fouled out with still 3:08 left in the game.
As a result, TNT, which also played minus the injured Ali Peek and forward-center Kelly Williams, who was stranded in the US, fell behind by as many as 18 points and could not complete its protracted comebacks in the second half.
Things could be different this time, though, what with Jimmy Alapag, Ranidel de Ocampo and Jayson Castro expected to lead the Texters’ charge against the likes of Air21’s Mike Cortez, KG Canaleta, Mark Isip and Bonbon Custodio. (NC)
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