Santos, Air21 on the brink of 1st PBA title

MANILA, Philippines – Arwind Santos came through with a crucial interception and then scooted home for an easy lay-up in the last 43 seconds, helping Air21 beat Ginebra, 76-73, in Game 5 Friday of the Smart-Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta Conference at the Astrodome in Pasay City. The win moved the Express on the threshold of winning the Fiesta Conference title, their first since entering the league six years ago. In what was easily the most dramatic contest in the best-of-seven championship series, Santos easily made the biggest defensive stop of the game as Air21 took a 3-2 lead in the Finals despite being held to their lowest output in over two seasons. Ginebra had the chance to tie the game and send it into overtime after Gary David bungled a fadeaway jumper with 7.6 seconds to go. But Chris Alexander was called for a traveling violation with 2.1 seconds left after catching a pass from Junthy Valenzuela. Santos was then fouled and split his free throws with 1.4 seconds remaining for the final count. Air21 can wrap up its first ever championship with another win Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum. Santos ended up with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting and pulled down six rebounds. But statistics won’t show the impact of his defensive presence, especially on Mark Caguioa, who was held to his lowest output in a championship series at seven points. It was the lowest total output in a Finals since San Miguel defeated Talk ‘N Text in Game 1 of the 2005 Fiesta Conference, and Air21’s final score was its lowest since an 87-73 setback to Coca-Cola in a playoff for a quarterfinals berth last May 28, 2006. Even then, the Express did not need to score much to win. Their defense was simply the key in the epic contest, even though the Express did have to exert an offensive blast when they trailed by as many as 12 points early in the game, 22-10. Air21, which ended the eliminations as the top ranked team, also held Ginebra scoreless in the last 2:50. “There really was no doubt in my mind that my players can get back at Ginebra," said Ai21 coach Be Perasol. Steven Thomas and David each had 15 points while Egay Billones, who started the game in place of Wynne Arboleda, contributed 10. Alexander led Ginebra with 21 points with Eric Menk and Junthy Valenzuela adding 11 and 10 each for the Gin Kings, who are now in a do-or-die situation and would need to win two straight to fulfill their dreams of bagging an eighth franchise title. – GMANews.TV