Barangay Ginebra, Air 21 beat q'final foes

Barangay Ginebra and Air 21 clobbered their quarterfinals opponents to move closer in earning a spot in the 2007 Talk N Text PBA Fiesta Conference Final Four. The Gin Kings defeated San Miguel Beermen, 113-87, while the Express routed Talk 'N' Text Phone Pals, 121-102, Wednesday night at the Araneta Coliseum, according to www.pba.com.ph. Nino Cañaleta scored 21 points to lead the Express in a third quarter blitzkrieg that ripped the game wide open. Cañaleta posted 11 points in that pivotal run that erased the Pals' six-point half time lead and give the Express the advantage in the best-of-three series. The Kings' just blasted the Beermen, whom Ginebra mentor Jong Uichico said were emotionally drained after their game against Coca-Cola last Sunday. "I think San Miguel just lost so much emotion in their game against Coca-Cola Sunday. I don't think this game should be a gauge of how this series can be," Ginebra coach Jong Uichico said. "I'd been in that team so many years. I know those players. I'm sure they will come out fired-up in the second game. We would make a big mistake if we play just the same we did tonight," Uichico added. The Kings and the Express can end the short series in Game 2 Friday at the Astrodome. The scores: Ginebra (113): Nealy 27, Abarrientos 17, Salvacion 14, Menk 13, Tubid 11, Echavez 8, Santos 7, Mamaril 6, Macapagal 5, Hubalde 3, Seigle 2, Holper 0 San Miguel (87): Young 18, Tenorio 17, Gonzales 9, Calaguio 8, Ildefonso 8, Pena 8, Racela 6, Villanueva 4, Cablay 4, Espinas 3, Wilson 2, Adriano 0, Rodriguez 0 Quarter scores: 30-21, 55-40, 77-66, 113-87 Air21 (121): Arboleda 22, Canaleta 21, Telan 17, Santos 15, Daniels 15, Se 13, Dimaunahan 7, Torion 6, Marquez 3, Andaya 2 Talk 'N' Text (102): Sullinger 22, Cardona 19, Belano 16, Carey 12, Washington 10, de Ocampo Y. 9, Allado 8, Billones 4, Santos 2, Aldave 0, Fran 0, Noble 0 Quarter scores: 29-31, 57-63, 95-79, 121-102

- GMANews.TV