AIR21 KEEPS PLAYOFFS HOPES ALIVE WITH UPSET OF TALK ‘N TEXT
AIR21 seems ready to turn its flickering hopes in the PLDT myDSL PBA Philippine Cup into more smoldering flames.
The Express showcased this by getting back at heavily-favored three-time defending champion Talk ‘N Text, 102-100, Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Forty-year-old Asi Taulava notched his seventh double-double of the conference — second most behind Petron Blaze big man June Mar Fajardo’s eight — with 23 points and 18 rebounds but it was the likes of Nino Canaleta, Joseph Yeo and Bonbon Custodio delivering the key points down the stretch that spelled the difference for Air21.
The Express also managed to get the much-needed stops down the stretch, enabling them to raze from a 91-97 deficit and into the revenge win over the same Tropang Texters crew that carved an 87-82 victory the first time they met.
It was also the first victory over TNT in six Philippine Cup meetings by the franchise formerly known as Shopinas.com, but, more important, the Express’ third win in 12 games fanned their hopes of at least tying for the eighth and last berth in the ensuing quarterfinal round.
“At least with this we’re still in the hunt,” said Air21 head coach Franz Pumaren, whose team winds up the elimination round campaign against San Mig Coffee Saturday and Rain or Shine on Jan. 18.
“We still have to take care of business come Saturday,” added Pumaren. “The beauty of our situation right now is that our destiny is still in our hands. We don’t have to rely on anybody else. We just have to win our next two games to at least earn a tie in the playoffs.”
The loss its fourth in 11 games, dampened TNT’s bid to finish among the top two and gain the twice-to-beat advantage such a slot carries in the ensuing round.
The goal remains within sight for the Tropang Texters, however, provided they prevail over Rain or Shine, San Mig and Barangay Ginebra in their remaining games.
Jayson Castro scored 21 points to pace the defending champions, who had the chance to steal the game after Canaleta’s charity split in the last 2.2 seconds. But Jimmy Alapag and Ryan Reyes battled for the long rebound with the ball heading out of the sideline as time expired.
A few seconds earlier, Ranidel de Ocampo failed to spike a 14-point, eight-rebound performance when his three-point shot spun halfway in before deciding to rim out.
That and the three other misses left the Tropang Texters in a sorry state down the last three minutes, although Pumaren said it was all due to his team’s tough defensive stance. “I think this is the first time we really played well and defended well in the stretch,” he noted.
“In the past we have this tendency to give up important shots. With this one, we were able to contain them in the last few seconds.”
Alapag, who missed his last 24 from beyond the arc in his last five games,went 6-for-12 from three-point territory and his last trey made it a 97-91 count, still 2:54 left.
But Canaleta, who finished with 16 points, countered right back with a rainbow shot of his own before Yeo laced his 13-point, 12-assist night with five straight points to give the lead right back at Air21, 99-97.
Following Custodio’s charities, Castro boomed in a triple to make it a one-point game, before Canaleta’s charity and the scrambling windup.
The loss dampened Danny Seigle’s becoming the 14th player in league history to make 2,000 free throws and only the first among active players. He scored eight points, including a 4-for-7 clip from the stripes.
Also hurting TNT’s chances was Kelly Williams being sidelined for the entire second half by a sore foot. (NC)
The scores:
Air21 102 – Taulava 23, Canaleta 16, Custodio 15, Matias 13, Yeo 13, Camson 10, Manuel 8, Cardona 4, Espiritu 0, Arboleda 0, Sharma 0.
Talk ‘N Text 100 – Castro 21, Alapag 20, De Ocampo 14, Reyes R. 11, Baclao 11, Seigle 8, Fonacier 6, Anthony 4, Reyes J. 3, Carey 2, Williams 0.
Quarterscores: 23-21, 45-46, 75-77, 102-100
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