Canaleta, Air21 defeat Ginebra to take 2-1 lead

MANILA, Philippines – The man who’s been missing for quite some time in Air21’s fearsome offense finally surfaced. And now the Express are halfway through claiming their first ever Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) title. Niño Canaleta scored 12 fourth-quarter points—all from the three-point territory—and the Express pulled away from a see-sawing contest to beat Barangay Ginebra, 97-87, in Game Three Sunday to take a 2-1 series lead in the Smart PBA Fiesta Conference Finals at the jam-packed Araneta Coliseum. Averaging only 3.8 points since Air21 made the semifinals outright and through two more games in the best-of-seven championship series, Canaleta, the three-time slam-dunk champion, came through with clutch baskets against a Ginebra team that didn’t field Jay-Jay Helterbrand Helterbrand, the Best Player of the Conference, sat out upon a team doctor’s order because of a hamstring injury. Canaleta ended up with 17 points, hitting all of his five shots from rainbow country. Steven Thomas claimed a confidence-boosting effort this time against Chris Alexander, pumping in 20 points and pulling down 20 rebounds. “We generated offense when we needed the most from Thomas and KG," said Air21 coach Bo Perasol. “I will always get points from Gary [David]. But the post plays of Steve were huge. KG, too, was able to hit those timely three-point shots that broke the back of Ginebra." David hit all of his nine free throws and finished with a game-high 25 points and Wynne Arboleda fell one assist short of his first triple double, tallying 12 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists for the Express who are now within reach of a PBA crown since entering the league in 2002. Chris Alexander had a rare triple double of 14 points, 17 rebounds and 11 blocks for the Gin Kings, who have now dropped two straight games since winning 13 straight in a span of over two months. Alexander’s 11 blocks was the highest since Jerry Codinera had the same number of swats 11 years ago. The all-time record in blocks is owned by former Toyota import Andrew Fields, who registered 13. For the second straight game, the team that won the rebounding department triumphed. The Express collected 63 to Ginebra’s 49, and held the Gin Kings to zero fast-break points in the last three quarters, an impressive defensive effort against a team that has always loved the open court. Air21 trailed 68-66 going into the fourth quarter, but Canaleta hit back-to-back triples as the Express grabbed a 76-71 lead with 9:42 left in the game. Ginebra chopped the gap down to 78-75, but Canaleta again hit a triple in a 6-0 run that gave Air21 an 84-75 lead. After a split by Alexander from the line, Canaleta capped his brilliance with another shot from long range, pushing the Express further 87-76 with only 5:37 remaining. – GMANews.TV