PBA: Air21 upsets Petron in OT to book playoffs berth

The Air21 Express leaned on a barrage of scores from KG Canaleta, as well as solid play from import Michael Dunigan and guard Bonbon Custodio, to seal a playoff berth with a 95-91 overtime win over the Petron Blaze Boosters, Saturday at the SM MOA Arena.

Air21 wrapped up the elimination round of the Commissioner's Cup by snapping a three-game losing streak, finishing with a 6-8 record, enough to clinch the last playoff berth.

Petron on the other hand fell to 7-6, creating a three-way tie with their sister teams San Mig Coffee Mixers and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

A slow extra period saw just two points scored on both sides, under two minutes remaining to play, as Mark Isip and Marcio Lassiter exchanged conversions, 89-all. KG Canaleta however showed his versatility, after scoring from downtown for most of regulation, he now picked up an and-one call, and sank the free throw, for a 92-89 lead, 1:40 left.

Petron still had their chances, but couldn't convert. A Lassiter air ball was followed by a turnover by Air21, but despite multiple tries on the next possession, Arwind Santos wound up missing an open look.

The Express sued for time, and got the ball into the hand of veteran Nelbert Omolon. When he was sent to the line by Petron, his steady hands resulted in two charities, for a 94-89 lead, 11 seconds left.

Henry Sims drove hard to the basket and fished for the foul, converting both charities, 94-91. One more whistle sent Canaleta to the line, and he landed a split to wrap up the game.

Canaleta finished with a game-high 37 points, including a 9-of-18 clip from downtown, and nine rebounds.

The Blaze Boosters led by as much as 17 points, 33-16, following back-to-back scores by import Henry Sims at the start of the second quarter. However, five triples from KG Canaleta, including getting fouled on a sixth attempt and converting all the charities, allowed the Express to stay in the thick of things, trailing by 10 at the break, 54-44.


10 unanswered by Air21 early in the third allowed them to knot the game at 58-all, and then another clutch of triples from Canaleta and Wynne Arboleda put the Express ahead, 64-62, five minutes left.

However, Petron showed they could hit triples as well, as back-to-back long-distance connections from Marcio Lassiter and Jay Washington put them back on top, 71-66. A charity by Michael Dunigan and a score from Mark Isip made it a two-point game, but Lassiter added another triple for good measure, 74-69, 53 seconds left in the third.

The Express still weren't done yet however. Another Dunigan free throw, and a Bonbon Custodio jumper made it just a two-point affair, 74-72, with the fourth quarter yet to unravel, 74-72.

Henry Sims began the fourth by adding to his team's margin, but a quick five-point burst from Air21 had them on top following a dunk by Dunigan, 77-76. The Blaze Boosters countered with six, 82-77, but they stumbled when June Mar Fajardo fouled out with 5:07 left in the period. Air21 then unloaded a 10-2 blast, with Canaleta rediscovering his range from distance to cap the run, 87-84, 31 seconds remaining.

Once again however, Marcio Lassiter was there to quell Air21's momentum, sinking a big triple to tie up things once more. Off a timeout, the Express got multiple attempts for a game-winner, with 25 seconds left. However, Custodio lost the ball on a spin move, and though Mark Isip recovered the ball, his two looks at a mid-range jumper fell short, resulting in the extra five minutes of action.

Michael Dunigan added 18 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks in support of Canaleta, while guards Bonbon Custodio and Wynne Arboleda dropped 14 and 10 markers, respectively.

What made Air21's win so surprising though, was the fact that lead point guard Mike Cortez was not dressed to play. "The Cool Cat" had a calf injury that he made worse when he played in their last game.

Henry Sims paced Petron with 30 points and 10 rebounds. Marcio Lassiter buried 6-of-8 triples en route to 23 points, while Jay Washington was the only other local in double figures, providing 15.

Air21 converted 11-of-26 from downtown (42.3 percent), as compared to Petron's 9-of-29 (31 percent) numbers. They als out-rebounded their foes to the tune of 61-to-50. 

The Blaze Boosters however turned 24 Express turnovers, double their own number, into 23 turnover points. - Adrian Dy, GMA News


The scores:

AIR 21 95 - Canaleta 37, Dunigan 18, Custodio 14, Arboleda 10, Baclao 6, Isip 4, Omolon 4, Atkins 2, Sena 0, Wilson 0, Menor 0, Ritualo 0.

PETRON 91 - Sims 30, Lassiter 23, Washington 15, Fajardo 5, Miranda 5, Lutz 4, Cabagnot 3, Lanete 2, Santos 2, Pena 2, Tubid 0.

Quarter scoring: 16-29, 44-54, 72-74, 87-87, 95-91