HOT-SHOOTING AIR21 FORCES GAME 5
Just when almost everybody was already looking forward to the grand San Mig Coffee-Talk n Text finale, the Air21 Express came out to announce they’re not done yet.
“Kala n’yo ‘di n’yo na ko makikita dito no?” said Air21 coach Franz Pumaren teasingly as he showed up in the post-game interview.
Facing the end of their overachieving conference, the Express pulled another shocker, repulsing the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers, 94-91, to force a do-or-die game in their PLDT Home TVolution PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-five semifinal showdown at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Monday night.
“We just got back to the old system that we’re doing. We did a certain approach that we’re supposed to do, something that vanished in the last two games,” said Pumaren after finding a way to stall a projected Mixers-Texters championship.
A semifinal first timer, Air21 now has a shot at foiling San Mig’s bid for a third straight Finals in their rubber match at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
“It’s a temporary celebration on our part. Tomorrow, we have to prepare again. This is a new thing for most of our players. San Mig has been in this situation many times in the past. But we’ll be there. We’ll try to outhustle and outwork them,” said Pumaren.
In Game Four, the Express showed up with an extra hot three-point shooting to stun the Mixers.
Wesley Witherspoon banged in eight treys and Mark Borboran, Joseph Yeo, Aldrech Ramos, Jonas Villanueva and Simon Atkins added seven in a franchise-record 15 triples that the Express unloaded to foil the Mixers’ first crack at wrapping up the series.
Before this game, the Express averaged only 6.6 treys a game in the conference.
“In yesterday’s practice, we went on soul-searching. I told the players let’s enjoy the game, let’s spread the floor and if we’re open don’t hesitate to take the shot, not like in the last game when we’re open and we’re hesitating,” said Pumaren.
“I was kind of hard on him (Witherspoon) in practice yesterday and he accepted the challenge. He responded by showing great character,” Pumaren also said.
Witherspoon enjoyed his hottest night in an Air21 uniform, scattering 32 points that went with eight rebounds, four steals, three assists and two blocks in 46 minutes of awesome action.
Asi Taulava did his job, neutralizing James Mays a little two nights after his monstrous 32-rebound job.
Yeo, Cardona, Borboran, Ramos and Atkins put in their share as the Express surprisingly dominated the Mixers after being held to an average of 74 points in the last two games.
Witherspoon poured in 21 points, spiked by 5-of-8 three-point shooting, as the Express took the half at 48-39.
The Express enjoyed double-digit spreads right in the opening frame and stayed in control in the next period while putting tremendous pressure on the San Mig ball handlers.
Delaying San Mig in bringing down the ball, the Express held the Mixers to 34 field attempts, making 13, in the first 24 minutes of play.
Witherspoon nailed three treys in the second quarter with the first giving Air21 a 14-point spread at 33-19 and another allowing the Express to regain a twin-digit advantage at 43-33 after the Mixers closed in at 35-30.
Before the second period came to an end, Yeo also drained a triple as the Express carried a nine-point spread over into the final half.
Air21 continued to fire clutch outside shots, with a trey by reserve guard Atkins closing the end of the third canto with the Express on top by 10 at 71-61.
Going to the final quarter, the Express had knocked in 13 three-pointers as against the Mixers’ four. (SB)
The scores:
AIR 21 94 – Witherspoon 32, Yeo 13, Taulava 12, Cardona 11, Borboran 8, Ramos 7, Atkins 6, Villanueva 3, Burtscher 2.
SAN MIG SUPER COFFEE 91 – Simon 26, Yap 22, Mays 14, Sangalang 9, Pingris 6, Barroca 6, Devance 4, Melton 4, Mallari 0, Reavis 0.
Quarterscores: 26-14, 48-39, 71-61, 94-91
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