AIR21 NOT YET DONE
And the incredible run of the playoff gatecrashers continued.
With big games from the quartet of Wesley Witherspoon, Sean Anthony, Asi Taulava and Joseph Yeo, the Air21 Express sustained their breakthrough ride, jolting the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers, 103-100, in Game One of their PLDT Home TVolution PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-five semifinal showdown at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Tuesday.
“We’re here just to seize the moment being an invited guest. Our concern is just to play what we’re capable of playing, and we’re okay,” said Air21 coach Franz Pumaren.
“The guys, however, are showing great character. They didn’t want to quit. You do that, and good things can really happen,” Pumaren also said.
With a continuous amazing effort, Air21 broke yet new ground in franchise history.
After a first triumph in a post-elims game and completing a shocking reversal of second seed San Miguel Beer in the quarters, Air21 extended its record run by beating San Mig Coffee for the first time in the season.
“Many times during the course of the game, we went down by eight points and nine points. But we regrouped, stayed in the course and didn’t run away from what we wanted to do,” said Pumaren.
The Express did fight with great determination, overcoming an eight-point deficit, 66-74, at the start of the final quarter to gain the decisive head start in the short series.
Air21, the playoffs seventh seed, tries to push San Mig Coffee to the wall in Game Two Thursday over at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“San Mig Coffee is tired coming from an extended championship series in the Philippine Cup and another tough three-game series in the quarters against Alaska,” said Pumaren.
“But all we’ve got is a small step in the series. Again, it’s tough to play San Mig Coffee. They have got rich tradition and championship pedigree,” Pumaren added.
Witherspoon, Anthony, Taulava and Yeo bucked all these as the Express made it three in a row after overcoming San Miguel Beer’s twice-to-beat advantage in their quarterfinals matchup.
Anthony once again played great coming off the bench, matching his career-best output of 29 points on 5-of-6 three-pointers, 2-of-3 twinners and 10-of-14 free throws.
“We’ve found in him somebody suited in what we’re trying to do. He gives us a lot of intangibles,” said Pumaren.
Witherspoon also showed up with hot shooting hands, firing away four three-pointers and a total of 25 markers while Taulava held his ground against James Mays, producing 14 points and nine rebounds.
Staring at a 66-74 deficit, the Express worked on an amazing run to turn the game around, 93-87, entering the last two minutes of the game.
It obviously helped the Express that James Yap came out flat, making only three points, and Mays struggled for only 14 points in the first three quarters and poured the bulk of his output when Air21 had pulled away in the game.
Pushing the ball in every opportunity, the Mixers led by nine points once at 48-39 in the second half.
The Express cut their deficit to a more manageable level at the half, 48-51, as Anthony made a three-pointer just before the buzzer.
Picking up where he left off in their quarters series versus San Miguel Beer, Anthony piled up 16 points just in the first two quarters.
The Mixers dominated the first half, though, on a 58.3-percent shooting as against the Express’ 48.7-percent clip. (SB)
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