DUNIGAN & THE EXPRESS HITTING THEIR STRIDE

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The tables are turning in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup as teams previously belonging in the lower half of the standings are making their way up. A veteran point guard is reasserting himself both in playmaking and scoring. And there’s this import who’s making a strong case for the tournament’s Best Import award. Two teams which had a good start are now getting a bitter dose of reality in the tournament as they’ve fallen by the wayside.  A returning import played listless in his first game back and needs to prove himself.

HITS

Air21 Express – Franz Pumaren and his wards never had it so good.

A four-game winning run has catapulted the Express back into contention for a playoff spot in the Commissioner’s Cup. Included in the streak are victories over favored teams San Mig Coffee and Alaska. It was the best winning streak in the young franchise of Shopinas.com/Air21 and the best winning run of Pumaren’s coaching career.

At 5-5, the Express find themselves in a four-way logjam at fourth place with San Mig Coffee, Barangay Ginebra and Talk N Text.

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel – The rise of the Kings continues.

Playing without Mark Caguioa last time out due to a sprained left knee, the never-say-die squad banked on LA Tenorio and Vernon Macklin to pick up their fourth straight victory and get back in the groove of things.

How long the Kings can survive without The Spark remains to be seen, but for sure, the entire barangay will definitely cherish the winning moments.

Rain or Shine Elasto Painters – After back-to-back losses, the team picked up back-to-back victories, a testament to its poise amidst adversities.

The Elasto Painters capped the week with a second straight win, an emphatic 116-85 bashing of the Talk N Text Tropang Texters. The vengeful squad won for the first time in seven meetings over the team which swept them in the recent Philippine Cup Finals.

Mike Cortez – The coolest performer among the Express the past week is none other than the Cool Cat. He averaged 13.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and six assists the past week, earning him Player of the Week honors.

With the veteran guard in control of his squad, the Express were like a runaway squad ready to run roughshod over their counterparts.

Vernon Macklin – Hack-a-Mack barely had any effect on this energetic import, whose rim-rattling stunts and high-wire act have brought new life to the once listless Kings.

Macklin turned averages of 28 points and 22 rebounds as Ginebra stayed on the winning track.

Michael Dunigan – If there’s one player who’s making a strong case for the Best Import award, it has to be this man.

Dunigan started the week by holding his own against the reigning Best Import Denzel Bowles and leading his squad to an 87-82 upset win over the Coffee Mixers.

He had 25 points, 20 rebounds and two blocks in that match and the former Australian League stalwart followed it up with a 22-point, 15-rebound performance against the GlobalPort Batang Pier as the Express stayed in the winning zone.

MISSES

GlobalPort Batang Pier – Seven games and counting.

The Batang Pier still have to find a way to end their misery and If the trend continues, they might find themselves off to an early vacation.

Now at the bottom of the standings with a 2-8 record, it seems only a miracle can save the Batang Pier from being eliminated in the tournament.

Barako Bull Energy Cola – These guys now own the second longest losing skid this conference.

The once promising team being handled by former SMART-Gilas mentor Rajko Toroman continues its skid and its record has slipped to 3-7 following an 89-96 loss to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, the hottest team in the tournament.

Mac Cardona – Captain Hook is once again the subject of trade talks.

Cardona was again grounded in the Meralco Bolts’ last game where he had only five markers. He averaged 2.5 points in the last two games, including a scoreless stint against San Mig Coffee.

Will the former league scoring leader be able to get his lost bearings in the next game and keep his spot with the Bolts?

Rodney White – He was supposed to fill in the big shoes left by Renaldo Balkman.

But the NBA veteran, who once suited up for the Barako Bull Energy, was obviously not in his best condition, scoring only 12 points on 5-for-17 shooting from the field.

Petron Blaze coach Olsen Racela expects his import to play a lot better in his next game. And White vows to play true to form.

Sylvester Morgan – Another import, another disappointment for the Batang Pier.

Tasked to become the team’s savior, Morgan just couldn’t lift the squad’s morale as his game turned out flat.

He debuted with 23 points, but with most of his baskets coming during garbage time. (RJ)

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