EXPRESS AIM LIGHTNING AT BOLTS
AIR21 got a new lease on life with a big win its last time out.
The Express now try to find out if they can at least stretch their PBA Governors Cup campaign a bit longer when they tackle Meralco Sunday at the Cuneta Astrodome.
The Bolts need a win not only to bounce back from a 79-91 loss to GlobalPort their last time out but also to secure at least a tie for a top four slot in the ensuing quarterfinals.
Those among the top four at the end of the nine-game eliminations are given a twice-to-beat advantage each against their respective opponent in the lower half of the last eight.
His team shrugging off that numbing loss is foremost on the mind of Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio.
“Get back on track. We were derailed in our last game,” said Gregorio, whose team blew a 20-point second quarter lead against the Batang Pier.
“We couldn’t manage our lead, but temporary setback only,” added Gregorio. “We’ll play sharper tomorrow.”
Air21 wants to just stay alive and did just that with a 106-102 surprise over Talk N Text last Friday to arrest a four-game slide.
A win over Meralco and another one over Alaska at elims end next Sunday give the Express a shot at making it through.
Those scenarios must be spiked by GlobalPort, Barangay Ginebra and TNT losing their final matches, however, but Air21 coach Franz Pumaren is unfazed.
“We look at it as a nice situation for us right now because our destiny is still in our hands,” said Pumaren. “We just have to take care of our end of the business starting tomorrow and see where it takes us.”
Undoubtedly, the unexpected win over TNT helped a lot in lifting the morale of the Bert Lina-owned franchise and that should spill over to the Meralco game.
“It was a very short celebration, considering we’re going up against a very tough Meralco team. But the boys are in very high spirits. They are upbeat,” related Pumaren.
The win over TNT did come with a heavy toll.
Vic Manuel is a doubtful starter due to a left shoulder he injured in the course of that game and that leaves Pumaren with little options on who to start at power forward.
“Na-disrupt ang rotation ko,” admitted Pumaren.
The explosive game of Nino Canaleta and the arrival of new additions in Asi Taulava, Joseph Yeo and Mike Burtscher, plus the return to action of Eric Salamat, give Pumaren additional sources for hope.
And cause for more concern for Gregorio. “Air21 cannot be dismissed. We must come in with a playoff mentality,” he stated. (NC)
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