EXPRESS TRY TO ELIMINATE BATANG PIER
WITH his Air21team coming off a tough loss, coach Franz Pumaren wants mental toughness from his charges when they take on GlobalPort 5:45 p.m. Wednesday in the PLDT Home Telpad PBA Governors’ Cup at the PhilSports Arena.
The Express are looking for a fifth win in eight games that would also act as a much-needed boost for a second straight franchise milestone after they made heads turn by making their first-ever semifinals stint in the mid-season Commissioner’s Cup.
Should the Express prevail as expected over the Batang Pier then they need only to win over San Miguel Beer on Saturday to finish with six wins, which should be enough for a top four slot and twice-to-beat advantage in the next round, also a first for the Bert Lina-owned franchise.
Crucial is how Air21 bounces back from a 109-113 overtime loss to San Mig Super Coffee just last Monday.
“Must win for us to stay in the hunt for the top four,” said Pumaren.
“We need to forget our game versus San Mig and start preparing for our GlobalPort game. Mental approach is the key element,” added Pumaren.
GlobalPort has a far humbler goal, which is merely making it among the eight teams advancing to the quarters. Yet even that seems to be beyond its reach following its slide that has reached five games.
The Batang Pier need to win not only against the Express but also against Meralco on Saturday to get to three wins, which may be enough to tie for eighth.
Those are not all the Mikee Romero-owned franchise needs, however, since the likes of Alaska, Meralco and Barako Bull must also finish the elims with at most three wins for ties, which would be resolved by the PBA quotient.
What is up for GlobalPort is already a handful.
As evidenced by the San Mig game, Air21 has proven to be a very tough nut to crack. Even its three losses have come by an average of just a little over five points.
Dominique Sutton has been steady with averages of 24.43 points, 14.29 rebounds and 2.14 steals per game but crucial for Pumaren are the contributions being made by Asi Taulava (18.29 points, 13.7 rebounds, 3.14 assists) and Joseph Yeo (12.6 points) and the relievers chiefly led by Mark Borboran, Mark Cardona, Eric Camson and Jonas Villanueva.
Cardona, in particular, should bounce back from a paltry two-point game against the Mixers.
For GlobalPort, more outside snipings from Alex Cabagnot, Ronjay Buenafe, Terrence Romeo and RR Garcia are sorely needed to stretch the defense and free up Dior Lowhorn (27.5 points, 11.25 rebounds) to operate inside. (NC)
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