Re: Air21 unplugs Meralco

AIR21’s Aldrech Ramos (right) applies heavy pressure on Meralco’s Cliff Hodge. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

MANILA, Philippines–Asi Taulava scored 22 points and grabbed 16 rebounds while the Air21 defense yielded a paltry four points in the second period en route to an 80-67 rout of Meralco at PhilSports Arena that put the Express in the upper half of the PBA Governors’ Cup standings.

But just as the Bolts thought their night was bad, Rain or Shine came in and gave Alaska a nightmarish beating that the Aces will be hard-pressed to forget.

The Painters established a franchise record in winning margin with a 123-72 victory that, expectedly, was also the worst loss in the Aces’ storied history.

Rain or Shine stormed away in the second period, never letting up until the final buzzer on the way to cementing the biggest margin of victory since Shell beat Tanduay, 154-100, on Nov. 16, 1986.

“It was one of those days when we did everything right and the opponent did everything wrong,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao, whose wards leveled their record to 3-3.

Alaska, on the other hand, dropped to 2-4 after absorbing a third straight defeat.

Import Dominique Sutton scored 25 that went with 18 boards as Air21 also set a couple of marks in the first game.

With their defense clicking, the Express forced the Bolts to a franchise-low in points in a quarter. The four points Air21 surrendered were also the fourth fewest in league history.

“We get energy from playing hard-nosed defense,” Air21 coach Franz Pumaren spoke with pride, moments after inflicting a fifth loss in six games on the Bolts and pushing them out of the playoff picture with three games left.

Only the top eight teams will advance past this round, and the Air21 win put the Express in fourth spot—and with the last twice-to-beat privilege if the playoffs were to start today.

THE SCORES:

First Game

AIR21 80—Sutton 25, Taulava 22, Cardona 11, Ramos 7, Borboran 5, Yeo 4, Villanueva J. 3, Camson 3, Villanueva E. 0, Poligrates 0, Burtscher 0, Menor 0, Atkins 0.

MERALCO 67—Hodge 18, West 16, Cortez 13, David 10, Hugnatan 4, Dillinger 4, Ildefonso 2, Bringas 0, Caram 0, Salvacion 0, Sena 0, Guevarra 0, Wilson 0.

Quarters: 15-19, 26-23, 53-41, 80-67

Second Game

RAIN OR SHINE 123—Reid 48, Chan 15, Belga 10, Araña 8, Lee 7, Cruz 6, Nuyles 6, Uyloan 5, Almazan 5, Teng 5, Tiu 4, Norwood 4, Ibañes 0, Rodriguez 0.

ALASKA 72—Walker 15, Casio 9, Manuel 7, Baguio 7, Thoss 6, Reyes 5, Espinas 5, Bugia 4, Dela Cruz 4, Eman 4, Hontiveros 3, Abueva 2, Buenafe 1, Belasco 0, Jazul 0.

Quarters: 26-22, 60-43, 89-61, 123-72

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