Air21 stays alive, one win away from q'finals
Everything has yet to fully come together for Air21, but it is already making everybody sit up and take notice.
The Express had at least somebody finding his touch at the most opportune of moments to hurdle Powerade, 108-98, Sunday and stay on their quest for a quarterfinals seat in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Alpha Bangura, Danny Seigle and Dondon Hontiveros all turned in solid games as the Express improved their win-loss record to 4-4 and a tie with idle Rain or Shine for fifth-running position.
Air21 is still faced with another must-win game against Alaska on Wednesday, but the way his boys have racked up three straight victories to stoke their bid gives coach Bong Ramos enough confidence.
“We stayed alive… and hopefully we continue to gel. The chemistry is already there, eh,” said Ramos.
“To me, inilagay kami sa sitwasyon na ganito. It’s a privilege. We will try our best para makapasok sa next round,” he added.
“Alaska is gonna be very tough, they play very well,” noted Seigle. “But our guys are starting to believe in themselves and I know we’re gonna do battle.”
The Express are hoping to win anew to avoid a tie with B-MEG Derby Ace for sixth since the Llamados beat them, 121-92, last March 2 and will advance by virtue by virtue of the winner-over-the-other tiebreaker. Even a three-way tie with Derby Ace and Rain or Shine will not do for the Bert Lina franchise due to an inferior quotient.
The loss, its third straight, was a no-bearing one for Powerade, although its 2-7 slate officially relegated it to ninth place. The Tigers’ lone consolation is the fact they could field an import as high as 6-foot-6 for the season-ending Governors Cup.
Martin Zeno had a conference and game-high 37 points to go with 12 rebounds. But except for Chico Lanete and Norman Gonzales no other player stepped up for the Tigers in the critical homestretch.
In direct contrast was Air21.
Bangura wound up with 32 points and got plenty of help from Seigle, who notched a second straight double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds.
Hontiveros added 17 and seven, with 11 of his points coming in the third period when Air21 raced to a 62-51 lead.
It was in the fourth quarter that the Express managed to assemble one decisive surge that got them over the Tigers, who showed grit by making it a close game and even taking as much as an 88-83 lead behind Gonzales’ six straight points.
Hontiveros sparked and fueled a 14-3 run with a triple and four more points, Joshua Urbiztondo nailed a triple of his own and Seigle added a drive and a two-handed dunk for a 103-93 spread, 1:25 left.
“Did you see how long it took me to get up there?” joked the 34-year-old Seigle, who had 18 points and 12 rebounds in a 110-101 win over Meralco last Wednesday.
The final outcome was a far cry from the early goings, when the two combatants engaged in a close duel that had four deadlocks and nine lead changes in the first half alone.
The crowd was treated to a seesawing battle in the opening period alone, with Zeno and Bangura offsetting each other in scoring but the former getting more support, enabling Powerade to take a 22-18 lead.
Ricky Calimag scored all of his 10 points in the second period, but Air21 still emerged with a 50-47 halftime lead after getting a more balanced offense. (NC)
The scores:
Air21 108 - Bangura 32, Seigle 23, Hontiveros 17, Urbiztondo 10, Juntilla 8, Arboleda 8, Sharma 4, Reyes 2, Artadi 2, Gonzales 2, Pena 0.
Powerade 98 - Zeno 37, David 18, Lanete 10, Calimag 10, Gonzales 9, Quinahan 4, Espino 4, Reyes 2, Macapagal 2, Cruz 2, Anthony 0, Rizada 0, Antonio 0.
Quarterscores: 18-22, 50-47, 76-79, 108-98
Alpha Bangura, Danny Seigle and Dondon Hontiveros all turned in solid games as the Express improved their win-loss record to 4-4 and a tie with idle Rain or Shine for fifth-running position.
Air21 is still faced with another must-win game against Alaska on Wednesday, but the way his boys have racked up three straight victories to stoke their bid gives coach Bong Ramos enough confidence.
“We stayed alive… and hopefully we continue to gel. The chemistry is already there, eh,” said Ramos.
“To me, inilagay kami sa sitwasyon na ganito. It’s a privilege. We will try our best para makapasok sa next round,” he added.
“Alaska is gonna be very tough, they play very well,” noted Seigle. “But our guys are starting to believe in themselves and I know we’re gonna do battle.”
The Express are hoping to win anew to avoid a tie with B-MEG Derby Ace for sixth since the Llamados beat them, 121-92, last March 2 and will advance by virtue by virtue of the winner-over-the-other tiebreaker. Even a three-way tie with Derby Ace and Rain or Shine will not do for the Bert Lina franchise due to an inferior quotient.
The loss, its third straight, was a no-bearing one for Powerade, although its 2-7 slate officially relegated it to ninth place. The Tigers’ lone consolation is the fact they could field an import as high as 6-foot-6 for the season-ending Governors Cup.
Martin Zeno had a conference and game-high 37 points to go with 12 rebounds. But except for Chico Lanete and Norman Gonzales no other player stepped up for the Tigers in the critical homestretch.
In direct contrast was Air21.
Bangura wound up with 32 points and got plenty of help from Seigle, who notched a second straight double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds.
Hontiveros added 17 and seven, with 11 of his points coming in the third period when Air21 raced to a 62-51 lead.
It was in the fourth quarter that the Express managed to assemble one decisive surge that got them over the Tigers, who showed grit by making it a close game and even taking as much as an 88-83 lead behind Gonzales’ six straight points.
Hontiveros sparked and fueled a 14-3 run with a triple and four more points, Joshua Urbiztondo nailed a triple of his own and Seigle added a drive and a two-handed dunk for a 103-93 spread, 1:25 left.
“Did you see how long it took me to get up there?” joked the 34-year-old Seigle, who had 18 points and 12 rebounds in a 110-101 win over Meralco last Wednesday.
The final outcome was a far cry from the early goings, when the two combatants engaged in a close duel that had four deadlocks and nine lead changes in the first half alone.
The crowd was treated to a seesawing battle in the opening period alone, with Zeno and Bangura offsetting each other in scoring but the former getting more support, enabling Powerade to take a 22-18 lead.
Ricky Calimag scored all of his 10 points in the second period, but Air21 still emerged with a 50-47 halftime lead after getting a more balanced offense. (NC)
The scores:
Air21 108 - Bangura 32, Seigle 23, Hontiveros 17, Urbiztondo 10, Juntilla 8, Arboleda 8, Sharma 4, Reyes 2, Artadi 2, Gonzales 2, Pena 0.
Powerade 98 - Zeno 37, David 18, Lanete 10, Calimag 10, Gonzales 9, Quinahan 4, Espino 4, Reyes 2, Macapagal 2, Cruz 2, Anthony 0, Rizada 0, Antonio 0.
Quarterscores: 18-22, 50-47, 76-79, 108-98
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