PBA: Air21 snaps out of slump, spoils Sharpe's GlobalPort debut

(Updated 6:47 pm) The Air21 Express halted their five-game losing skid by defeating the GlobalPort Batang Pier on Sunday, 106-94, in the PBA Commissioner's Cup elimination round at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. The Express improve to 2-5, temporarily moving up to eighth in the conference standings. Meanwhile, GlobalPort fell for the fifth straight game to land at ninth place (2-6). GlobalPort's new import Walter Sharpe keyed a 10-4 fourth quarter rally to bring Batang Pier within three, 89-86, but Michael Dunigan put the Express on his back and scored at will against the smaller Batang Pier frontcourt, 97-92. With under two minutes to play, KG Canaleta and Sharpe traded shots from the line, but Arboleda plunged a dagger into GlobalPort when he connected on three, 102-94, with a minute and change left on the clock. Batang Pier couldn't keep up as they went empty on their last few possessions. Air21 head coach Franz Pumaren praised Dunigan for moving on from their 89-88 loss to Meralco on Friday, saying, "We thought he wasn't mentally tough but he showed that he was capable of a performance worthy to be called one of the best imports in this conference," he said. Michael Dunigan scored a game-high 35 points and 20 rebounds. Mark Isip, Mike Cortez and Winnie Arboleda had 12 points apiece, and combined for 14 boards and 13 assists. "This victory eases the pain a little from our previous games," said Pumaren, whose Express team fell by just an average of 3.6 points during that slide. "At least this time around we were able to finish strong. Michael's been playing really well." Pumaren said that the losing streak has been tough on him personally. "Sometimes it's better to lose from the start, kung gulpi. But games against Barako and Meralco just slipped past us," he admitted. "I've been looking for the best possible starters to give us the best start. We've usually started flat so we're trying to experiment on our line-ups," he said. "[Our slump] has been learning experience," the former DLSU head coach added, though he's been  staying positive despite his team's record. "I've been telling the players to use those games as a springboard for a better performance down the stretch, and especially in this game, everything's been falling into the right places." In the first quarter, offensive rebounds helped GlobalPort put up easy points, as Mike Cortez was active early and combined with Michael Dunigan for eight, for 11-9 Express lead. While Batang Pier looked lost on offense, Air21 got consecutive transition scores courtesy of KG Canaleta and Nelbert Omolon. Dunigan added a long range jumper to cap an 8-2 Air21 run, but GlobalPort caught a break with a Gary David-Japeth Aguilar alley-oop in transition, 19-13. However, GlobalPort would not score in the last two and a half minutes, while on the other side, Wynne Arboleda and Dunigan added 4-of-4 free throws during that span for a 23-15 lead for Air21 after the first period. Neither team shot better than 30 percent from the field in the first period, but Air21 earned their advantage at the free throw line. The Express were 10-of-12 from the stripe (83.3 percent) while the Batang Pier were 3-of-5 (60 percent). Willie Miller hit a long two at the start of the second quarter, and GlobalPort rode their bench's efforts to get back in the game. Jondan Salvador and AJ Mandani added four points each, and Mark Yee drilled home a three-pointer that knotted the game at 31-all. Both teams one-upped each other for most of the period, as Mandani and Miller nailed a triple each to help their squad keep step with the Express. On the other hand, Mark Isip and and Dunigan continued to attack the rim and earn time at the line for Air21. GlobalPort gained separation in the final minute though, where drive and kick plays by Mercado found new import Walter Sharpe for back-to-back treys, as Batang Pier took a 50-47 lead into halftime. Air21 made 10-of-19 field goals in the second quarter, led by Dunigan's 4-of-7 mark (57.1 percent). GlobalPort was better however, registering an unstoppable 12-of-16 (75 percent) clip from the field in the second period, including Mandani, Miller, Sharpe, Yee and Salvador combining for a perfect 11-of-11. Batang Pier was in bad shape after the break. They couldn't hit from the field, while David missed two from the line and earned a technical foul for foul language. On the other hand, the Express looked to get Dunigan involved on every possession to jumpstart their offense. The import grabbed loose boards and tortured the GlobalPort frontline as his team edged ahead, 60-55. Sharpe was the lone bright spot on the GlobalPort offense for most of the quarter, as he scored or got to the line on a variety of moves. Mercado, who was scoreless in the previous quarter, earned his first points on charities to answer a Wynne Arboleda trey, 67-63, with under four minutes to play. David redeemed himself as he combined with Mandani to score Batang Pier's next nine, pulling GlobalPort within four points, but John Wilson nailed a corner triple with 14 seconds to go, returning the Express' lead to seven after three quarters, 78-71. Air21 out-rebounded GlobalPort in the third period, 16-8, including 7-1 on the offensive glass. The extra possessions allowed the Express to attempt six more field goals than Batang Pier en route to a 9-of-21 clip (42.9 percent). In the fourth period, a triple by Renren Ritualo capped a 7-3 swing for the Express, making it a nine-point game. GlobalPort called a timeout, and Sharpe provided the points afterwards. The import nailed his third triple and finished a fast break and-one to highlight a 10-4 counterattack, 89-86. Walter Sharpe scored 24 points and nine rebounds in his debut for GlobalPort. Gary David notched 20 points, including 14-of-19 from the free throw line, but missed all his four tries from downtown. AJ Mandani added 13 points, while Willie Miller had 12 markers. The Express finished with a 54-44 rebounding advantage, including 20-13 on the offensive end. Air21 went on to make 33-of-81 field goals (40.7 percent) against Batang Pier's 29-of-71 mark (40.8 percent). Sol Mercado and Japeth Aguilar combined for only 12 points and nine rebounds on 5-of-21 shooting. Mercado tallied six assists. - RAF/AMD, GMA News The scores: AIR21 106 - Dunigan 35, Isip 12, Cortez 12, Arboleda 12, Omolon 9, Wilson 8, Canaleta 8, Ritualo 6, Custodio 4, Atkins 0, Baclao 0 GLOBALPORT 94 - Sharpe 24, David 20, Mandani 13, Miller 12, Mercado 8, Aguilar 6, Aljamal 4, Salvador 4, Yee 3, Antonio 0 Quarters: 23-15, 47-50, 78-71, 106-94