AIR21 PICKS UP FROM WHERE IT LEFT IN PREVIOUS TOURNEY
AIR21 wants to show it is now a team to be reckoned with and Dominique Sutton should help realize that goal.
Sutton unveiled a game tailor-made for Air21, enabling the Express to notch a 103-96 victory over Rain or Shine Tuesday at the start of their campaign in the PLDT Home Telpad PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The muscle-bound 27-year-old scored a game-high 25 points, the bulk coming during the first half that pointed Air21 to its first win over the Elasto Painters in franchise history since coming into the league as Shopinas.com prior to the 2012-13 season.
Asi Taulava added 19 points and 14 rebounds while Joseph Yeo chipped in 18 points, including five clutch ones inside the last 2:21 of play that helped the Express weather their foes’ last gasp after falling behind by as much as 50-67 in the third period.
“It’s a good start for us,” said Air21 head coach Franz Pumaren, obviously pleased with the way his team picked up from where it left off when it made the semifinals for the first time in the Commissioner’s Cup. Prior to that, the former Clickers wound up last four times in their first seven tournaments.
“Our mind-set right now is, we need to improve on the last conference and win as many games as possible,” said Pumaren. “We are no longer the old Air21. We have to ensure that we’re not a flash in the pan, that we’re serious contenders now.”
Taulava wholeheartedly agrees. “We want to build on our momentum from the last conference,” said the 41-year-old center. “We don’t want to leave doubt in the people’s minds that the last conference was a fluke.”
Sutton, a 27-year-old, 240-lb NBADL campaigner who has also seen action in the Dominican Republic and Greek leagues, is definitely a big part in Air21’s initial success, mixing up his inside moves with some perimeter jumpers and an occasional triple.
“Sutton definitely gave us a lift, he’s suited for us,” said Pumaren. “He helped establish our inside presence although he still has to learn the very physical game here in the PBA.”
Rain or Shine also wants to follow up on its third place finish in the Commissioner’s Cup, and Arizona Reid certainly tried with 20 points and 12 boards. But most of his local teammates failed to give ample support and the E-Painters dug themselves an early hole they could not completely get out of.
Layups by Beau Belga, Reid and Gabe Norwood put Rain or Shine within 91-97 and Jeff Chan’s five straight points kept the E-Painters within 96-101 in the game where they missed head coach Yeng Guiao who had a previous business engagement overseas.
Each time the E-Painters threatened, however, Air21 has a ready answer in either Yeo, Sutton or Taulava.
The biggest factor in Rain or Shine’s loss were its 15 flubbed free throws and 18-rebound disadvantage that helped Air21 post a 13-6 advantage in second chance points.
The Express were 0-11 prior to the game against the Elasto Painters overall since entering the league three seasons ago. (NC)
The scores: (Click HERE for full boxscores)
AIR 21 103 – Sutton 25, Taulava 19, Yeo 18, Ramos 11, Borboran 8, Villanueva 6, Camson 6, Jaime 4, Atkins 3, Cardona 3, Poligrates 0, Burtscher 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 96 – Reid 20, Belga 14, Chan 12, Lee 11, Norwood 11, Nuyles 7, Ibanes 6, Arana 5, Almazan 4, Rodriguez 4, Uyloan 2, Tiu 0, Tang 0.
Quarterscores: 33-24, 62-50, 85-73, 103-96
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