BREAKING THROUGH
The Air21 Express have gone far beyond expectation and they don’t want to be stopped now.
In an incredible breakthrough run, Air21 hopes to get going, looking to sustain the ride and push San Mig Coffee to the wall in Game Two of their PLDT Home TVolution PBA Commissioner’s Cup Final Four faceoff at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Thursday night.
Game time is at 8 p.m.
Wesley Witherspoon, Sean Anthony and Asi Taulava churned out games to remember, and the Express shocked the Mixers, 103-100, Tuesday night at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Before that game, Air21 had never beaten San Mig Coffee in PBA Season 39 and the Express had never won three straight games in nearly a year.
“We’re here just to seize the moment. Being an uninvited guest, our concern is just to play what we’re capable of playing, and we’re okay,” said Air21 coach Franz Pumaren of their mindset before the series.
Can’t fault Pumaren and his troops to dream big now.
“Hats off to Air21, they made big plays and big shots all night to keep us at bay. We need to come back with a better response and come into Game Two with the mindset of playing to the personality of our team. We got away from that in Game One,” said San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone.
With much deeper bench, the Mixers tried to push the tempo, but the Express were able to keep up stride for stride before coming up with a mighty run in the fourth quarter.
It was San Mig Coffee that seemingly ran out of gas.
“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.
Helping Air21 along were the flat performances by James Yap and James Mays, and a crucial traveling violation by Asi Taulava that escaped the eyes of the referees.
“The game officials failed to spot a traveling violation on Asi Taulava that led to a two-point basket for Air21 at the 1:22 mark of the fourth quarter,” a statement from the PBA Commissioner’s Office said.
The PBA Commissioner’s Office said it has taken the appropriate disciplinary and corrective measures on the erring referees.
Cone vehemently protested the no-call leading to his ejection from the game.
Pumaren, meanwhile, called it breaks of the game that happen in basketball play. He doesn’t want credit to be taken away from the Express for their tremendous effort.
No doubt, the Express outworked and outplayed the Mixers Tuesday night to stretch their amazing streak. (SB)
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