Express snap Tigers run

Express snap Tigers run

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Source: http://www.malaya.com.ph/apr14/spor1.htm

BY NOLI CORTEZ

BETTER known for its offense, Air21 last night proved it can also win with defense.

The Express stifled the Coca-Cola Tigers in the stretches that mattered most to emerge with a 102-95 triumph in the Smart PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

Steven Thomas’ 25 points and 15 rebounds led the double figures by all of Air21’s starters, but main factor for coach Bo Perasol was the way his charges played ‘D’ to repeatedly frustrate the previously unbeaten Coca-Cola.

"It was a hell of a job for the guys, the way they stood out in defense," said Perasol after the big victory that snapped their two-game slide and gave them an even 2-2 win-loss record.

"I told them that offensively they can match up with any team, so it is in defense that they have to improve on. I think they took that to heart," he said.

"It’s not much since we still gave up 95 points but it’s still a far cry from the 102 points we’ve been giving up in our last two games. I just hope they’ll be able to sustain this intensity in defense."

The Express were second in scoring with a shade above 100 points a game, but gave up close to 106 points each time in the Philippine Cup where they wound up seventh.

Perasol added the game was dedicated to the memory of Aquilino Alvarez, Sr., the father of team manager and Air21 president Lito Alvarez, who passed away last Friday.

The loss was the first in four games for the Tigers, notwithstanding the 26 points and six assists of new import George Gervin Jr., son of the NBA great.

Still, the six-footer showed some shakiness by going 9-of-19 from the field and committing seven turnovers.

The usually reliable Jason Dixon had 16 points and 11 rebounds, but save for Mark Maca-pagal’s 10 points, no other Coke starter managed to score in double digits.

In contrast, Arwind Santos had 21 points and 14 rebounds, Homer Se and Wynne Arboleda 17 each, with the point guard adding 11 assists, and Ranidel de Ocampo 10 points for Air21.

Also frustrated was Coke forward Mark Telan, who as early as the third quarter became the 34th member of the elite 1,000-offensive rebounds club.

Its balanced scoring, plus a torrid 9-of-10 field shooting to start the game, enabled Air21 to lead by as much as 24-9 in the first quarter, but Coke still managed to crawl back and make a tighter game of it.

Ronjay Buenafe (11 points off the bench) joined hands with Gervin in moving the Tigers to within two points four times, the last at 65-67.

Despite a rain of treys from the likes of Arboleda and Santos, Coke still threatened at 78-81 on Gervin’s left-handed layup, still 7:55 left.

Then the Express held the Tigers scoreless for the next three minutes while Santos and Thomas poured in the points, keeping the Bert Lina franchise’s head above water the rest of the way.