Ginebra dismantles Air21 in PBA Finals opener

MANILA, Philippines – The Air21 Express now knows what it feels like to play the Barangay Ginebra Kings in a Philippine Basketball Association Finals. Its championship experience clearly towering and Chris Alexander once more in dominant form, Ginebra turned back Air21, 105-96, to take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-seven championship series Wednesday in the Smart PBA Fiesta Conference before 16,028 fans at the Araneta Coliseum. The import who was a key part in turning the Gin Kings’ fortunes around after a 0-5 start made a crucial stop and then scored on a key tip-in in the final 1:20, helping Ginebra quell a last stand by an Express squad that started strong but really fell short of coming through with a shock win in its first-ever stint in a championship series. Alexander had more rebounds – 25 – than points (18) and Mark Caguioa came off the bench again to overcome a scoreless first quarter to finish with a team-high 22 points on nine-of-20 shooting from the field. “I have to admit. Chris Alexander outplayed Steven Thomas," said Air21 coach Bo Perasol. Thomas ended up with 21 points and grabbed 16 rebounds. But at most times on the offensive end, he was intimidated by the defense of Ginebra’s seven-foot-one import, who also had blocked five shots and scored seven fourth-quarter points. Ranidel de Ocampo led the Express with 22 points, 12 coming in the fourth period and Arwind Santos contributed 19 points and 14 rebounds – a brilliant performance for a league sohphomore making his first championship stint. Air21 began the game as if it was a veteran squad, scoring the first 10 points of the match and rattling Ginebra and the crowd. But as soon as the Gin Kings called time out and made their rotation, the contest suddenly took a different twist. In no time, Ginebra wiped out that lead and after trailing by 19-15, attacked with a 16-0 run to make it 31-19. The Gin Kings led largest at 20, 64-44 on a side jumper from Eric Menk with 6:57 left in the third period. Still, Air21 refused to fade away. The Express made a run that sliced the gap to within six thrice, the last at 96-90 on a basket from Thomas with 2:06 to go. Alexander, however, had a split. Then, after forcing Thomas to a miss, had a follow-up off an attempt by Jay-Jay Helterbrand to make it 99-90 with only 80 seconds remaining. – GMANews.TV