Showing why they deserve to be in the finals, the Air21 Express avenged their first game loss with a blowout of the Barangay Ginebra Kings. The Express domainated all the basketball departments specially in rebounding.
Best Player of the Conference awardee Jayjay Helterbrand and Best Import Chris Alexander was a non-factor for this contest as they were completely overshadowed by their Air21 counterparts. Arwind Santos and Gary David leads the express with an ample support for other Air21 Express players.
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AIR21 EVENS SERIES WITH 34-PT BLOWOUT Conference awardees net measly 14 pts for Kings
Source: Philippine Basketball Association
Friday, August 8, 2008
ANTIPOLO -- True to their vow, the Airr21 Express exacted revenge Friday night. And it was huge.
"That was a challenge and the boys responded pretty well," said basketball coach Bo Perasol moments after his troops got even with the Barangay Ginebra Kings, tying the 2008 Smart PBA Fiesta Conference best-of-seven basketball series after two gammes.
The Express made a big comeback from a nine-point defeat in the basketball series opener, playing aggressively throughout to end the Kings' amazing streak with a king-sized 124-90 win in Game Two at the Ynares Center here.
Dominated in Game One, the Express returned the compliment, even besting the Kings' performance Wednesday.
Unrelenting, Airr21 outscored Ginebra on all quarters in dealing the Kings their first defeat in their last 14 gammes.
The Express sat on a 13-point cushion at the turn and started the final half with a 14-to-nothing run to settle the outcome of the gamme early much to the disappointment of the predominant Ginebra crowd anticipating the Kings to keep their unbeaten run in the post-elims play.
The Bert Lina Group basketball franchise instead tied the series at 1-1. The two teams dispute the 2-1 lead as the basketball series returns to the Big Dome for Game Three Sunday.
"We're really determined to make a statement that we're for real," said Perasol as the Express pulled off the 34-point win -- the biggest winning margin in basketball franchise history.
It was the worst loss by Ginebra since a 66-102 blowout by Talk n Text on Feb. 4, 2005 and the most lopsided loss in coach Jong Uichico's basketball coaching career.
The Express led by as many as 36 points late in the gamme with each one responding well to the challenge.
Arwind Santos and Gary David fired 20 points apiece with nine other Airr21 players scoring at least eight.
"All the players responded pretty well. We wanted to put in Ginebra's mind that they're beatable. We can't afford to fall in a 0-2 hole against Ginebra," said Perasol.
The youthful Airr21 mentor said the key was controlling the boards and keeping Ginebra from running.
The Express outrebounded the Kings, 55-41, and produced 23 fastbreak points as against Ginebra's seven.
Steven Thomas played much better than Wednesday, showing up Chris Alexander curiously on the night the Ginebra reinforcement was named the Best Import.
Thomas produced 18 rebounds, 10 points, five assists and two blocks as against Alexander's 10 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and four blocks.
Jayjay Helterbrand also had a miserable gamme on the night he was crowned Best Player of the Conference. He struggled for four points and failed to finish the basketball gamme due to a hamstring injury suffered late in the third quarter.
The Express played with a lot of energy and intensity right in the opening half, taking the first quarter at 26-18 and carrying a 58-45 margin over into the second half.
The two basketball teams both hit at a 47.4-percent clip but the Express scored much much more on basketball hustle plays.
Steven Thomas alone nearly matched the rebounds of the whole Ginebra team, 14-17, in the first 24 minutes of basketball play. The Express totaled 32 rebounds, 14 off the offensive boards leading to a 7-0 advantage by Airr21 on second-chance points.
Alexander was limited to four rebounds while Mark Caguioa committed four fouls in the first half. (NC)
The scores:
Air21 124 -- Santos 20, David 20, Intal 11, Billones 11, Thomas 10, Se 10, De Ocampo 9, Arboleda 9, Kramer 8, Cruz 8, Canaleta 8, Espinas 0, Sotto 0.
Ginebra 90 -- Caguioa 29, Salvacion 11, Alexander 10, Pacana 8, Menk 6, Crisano 6, Artadi 5, Mamaril 5, Helterbrand 4, Escalona 2, valenzuela 2, Reavis 2, Wilson 0.
Quarterscores: 26-18, 58-45, 92-63, 124-90
Friday, August 8, 2008
Arwind Santos, Gary David Shine as Air21 Express Torched Barangay Ginebra Kings
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Arwind Santos, Gary David Torches Magnolia; Sends Air21 Express to Finals
It's dejavu once again for the Magnolia Beverage Masters as an almost similar game happened again. They lead in 3 quarters only to melt down in the last and final quarter that gave the Air21 Express the ticket to battle the Baranga Ginebra Kings in the finals. Arwind Santos and Gary David conspired along Egay Billiones and Ranidel De Ocampo to scorched the net with their whopping three point shots.
I was not able to watch the game so I have not much comment about how it was played. This marks the end of the season for the team though there is still a remaining battle for third place. However, it has been the tradition of the team not to fight for third place wherein it let most of its bench players to play and resting the starters for the next season.
Here's also the final result of a survey that I conducted as to how far the team would go in this conference. Only 8% (7 votes) of the 80 voters got it correctly.
TORRENT OF 3s SEND AIR21 TO FINALS
Express start battle vs. Kings August 6
Source: Philippine Basketball Association
Saturday, August 2, 2008
The long wait to do the Last Dance for the Airr21 Express is over.
Coach Bo Perasol and his basketball troops did the job for the Bert Lina Group basketball franchise, fighting back from a 15-point deficit and pouncing on the badly stunned Magnolia Beverage Masters side at endgame for a 99-91 win Friday that sent them to the 2008 PBA Fiesta Conference basketball finale.
"Words can't describe what we feel right now. It's deeper than being happy," said Perasol, his voice cracking, after the Express eased out the Magnolia Beverage Masters to gain the right to challenge the Barangay Ginebra Kings for the basketball crown.
Airr21 gatecrashed the anticipated Magnolia Beverage Masters-Ginebra basketball party, finally landing the place it had been dreaming of since its entry to the basketball league in 2002.
Game 1 of the Airr21-Ginebra basketball finale is Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.
"It's very, very fulfilling although we still have the championship basketball series to play. We should not be satisfied with being in the finals. We reached the finals to win it," said Perasol, succeeding on where previous Airr21 basketball coaches Derrick Pumaren, Bonnie Garcia, Joe Lipa and Bong Ramos failed.
Perasol said he likes their chances again Ginebra although they're like up against the world playing the basketball league crowd darling.
"I'm very positive we would have a good match-up with them man-for-man but not fan-for-fan. It could well be like Airr21 versus the Philippines and it's a very big factor. I will bet on my basketball team if it's a close-door match," said Perasol.
Gary David, Ranidel de Ocampo and Egay Billones played key roles as the Express delivered the killer blow on the Magnolia Beverage Masters in Game 6 of their best-of-seven basketball showdown.
The Express were still down by eight, 73-81, with less than eight minutes left to play when David, De Ocampo and Billones teamed up in a sudden and crucial 19-2 attack to turn the tide in their favor.
The Magnolia Beverage Masters failed to recover after falling behind by nine at 83-92, blowing their bid for what could have been a fourth basketball title playoff with the Kings.
Instead, Magnolia Beverage Masters battles Red Bull in a one-gamme basketball playoff for the second runner-up honors.
Danny Seigle, who's struggling in the series with an average of only 4.5 points, and Dondon Hontiveros, nursing a sprained ankle, combined for 16 points both coming off the bench as the Magnolia Beverage Masters took the half at 49-40.
With a much better field-goal accuracy, the Magnolia Beverage Masters stormed into a 29-18 advantage in the first quarter and stretched the lead to as many as 15, 40-25, in the second period.
Magnolia Beverage Masters converted 46.3 percent of its shots in the first 24 minutes of play while Airr21 hit at a 31.3 percent clip.
The Magnolia Beverage Masters got a big lift from their off-the-bench players early on with Seigle, Hontiveros and Dorian Pena combining for 19 points as against the mere eight markers of Airr21's JC Intal, Gary David, Nino Canaleta, Doug Kramer and Marvin Cruz.
David, who's averaging 20.8 points in the semis, was limited to three on 1-of-5 shooting in the first half.
But it turned out David was just saving his best for last, firing 17 points in the final half, eight in the fourth quarter. (NC)
The scores:
Airr21 99 -- Santos 24, David 20, De Ocampo 17, Thomas 9, Se 9, Billones 8, Arboleda 5, Intal 3, Canaleta 3, Espinas 1, Kramer 0, Cruz 0.
Magnolia 91 -- Racela 14, Seigle 14, Tugade 13, Ildefonso 11, McCaskill 10, Hontiveros 9, Pena 7, Pingris 6, Cortez 4, Villanueva 3, Bono 0.
Quarterscores: 18-29, 40-49, 66-74, 99-91
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Arwind Santos, Gary David Conspire in Endgame as Air21 Express Move Ahead 2-1
It's another heartbreaking loss for the Magnolia Beverage Masters after taking control for the most part of the duel but failied to finish off the Air21 Express in the last quarter.
It was a low-scoring ballgame, which should favor the team but it seems like their guards were a little down during the crucial stretch of the ballgame. The breaks of the basketball game may also favored the Express or wasn't it because of their hussle? Dynamite Danny Seigle's offensive presence was greatly felt in the fourth quarter when the team failed to counter the Express offensive thrust.
Do we still stand a chance against the Express? Well, the series is won in four games. I do hope that the Magnolia Beverage Masters wakes up in time to realize its mistakes in the past two battles and show its defensive jaggernaut in derailing the overachieving Air21 Express.
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AIR21 IN COME-FROM-BEHIND GAME 3 WIN OVER MAGNOLIA David, Santos conspire in endgame as Express move ahead 2-1
Source: Philippine Basketball Association
Saturday, 25 July 2008
ANTIPOLO CITY. – Last season’s multi-awarded Gary David provided the spark to lead the comeback while wingman Arwind Santos put the finishing touches as Air21 downed the Magnolia Beverage Masters, 82-78, in Gamme Three of the Smart-PBA Fiesta Cup semifinals Friday night at the Ynares Sports Center here.
Last season’s Most Improved Player and member of the Mythical Second and All-Defensive Teams, David scored 10 of his ballgame-high 17 points in a 10-2 run that featured back-to-back three-pointers, a jumper and two free throws that turned a 67-74 deficit to a 77-76 advantage with 2:03 remaining in the basketball gamme.
Then Santos, last season’s Rookie of the Year runner-up and member also of the All-Defensive Team, took over.
After Magnolia Beverage Masters import Amal McCaskill’s jumper hit the backboard that resulted in a 24-second shot clock violation, Santos nailed a big triple that gave them an 80-76 advantage with 1:19 left.
McCaskill made it a two-point basketball gamme with a pair of free throws off a foul by Air21 import Steven Thomas, 78-80.
However, following a missed jumper by Santos, Ranidel de Ocampo grabbed the loose ball to give his possession, paving the way for Santos being fouled by Danny Ildefonso which resulted in two free throws with 9.7 seconds remaining which pegged the final score.
“Now naiintindihan ko na what championship experience is all about,” Air21 mentor Bo Perasol said. “We don’t have that championship experience, but these kinds of playoff basketball gammes give us the experience in these situations.”
“We (coaching staff) already laid down the basketball gamme plan, alam na nila (players) kung ano ang gagawin. Importante na lang ‘yung kagustuhan and focus to win,” he added.
The Express now lead the Beverage Masters, 2-1, in semifinal series, a first time for the franchise to lead in a best-of-seven.
It was actually Air21’s fourth win in five basketball gammes this conference against the Magnolia Beverage Masters after sweeping the head-to-head meeting during the elimination round. They are also 4-0 with Steven Thomas in the line-up.
The Express also won Gamme Two, 103-102, with Thomas returning from the US after missing Gamme 1.
Forward Homer Se added 12, while Santos had 11 points and eight rebounds and playmaker Wynne Arboleda chipped in 11, seven boards and five assists.
Thomas, who missed the series opener last Sunday won by the Magnolia Beverage Masters (113-87), had nine points on 4-of-12 shooting with 11 rebounds, four assists and four blocked shots in 43 minutes.
“(Thomas’) presence gave his teammates the confidence. His intensity on both ends is really important,” Perasol.
Air21 tries to take a 3-1 lead in Gamme Four of the basketball showdown Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.
“Next basketball gamme on Sunday is very important because a win will push us one victory away from moving to the Finals for the first time. I know they’ll come out strong, but we’ll be prepared,” Perasol said.
McCaskill led the Magnolia Beverage Masters with 16 points and 10 boards. (WG)
The scores:
Air21 82 – David 17, Se 12, Santos 11, Arboleda 11, Thomas 9, Canaleta 8, de Ocampo 7, Intal 5, Sotto 2, Cruz 0, Espinas 0, Billones 0.
Magnolia 78 – McCaskill 16, Tugade 15, Pena 12, Racela 9, Ildefonso 8, Pingris 7, Cortez 6, Hontiveros 5, Gonzales 0, Seigle 0.
Quarterscores: 17-24, 41-41, 57-62, 82-78.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Eman vs. Santos: A Showdown of Shotblockers
Arwind Santos of Air21 Express welcomes rookie Samigue Eman of Magnolia Beverage Masters to the PBA with a shotblock rejection.
After being humiliated in an earlier play, Samigue Eman returns the favor to Arwind Santos by showing what his height can do.
