PBA: Air21 nips Coke, 102-95

MANILA, Philippines - The Air21 Express started and ended strong to beat the Coca-Cola Tigers 102-95 in the 2008 Smart-PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum Sunday. Express import Steven Thomas had 25 points and 15 rebounds to lead his team to their second victory in four outings. Locals Arwind Santos also posted 21 points and 14 rebounds, Homer Se and Wynne Arboleda 17 each, with the point guard adding 11 assists, and Ranidel de Ocampo 10 points for Air21. The loss, meanwhile, was the first in four games for the Tigers, notwithstanding the 26 points and six assists by new-acquired import George Gervin Jr, son of the former NBA great. Still, the six-footer showed some shakiness by going 9-of-19 from the field and committing seven turnovers. The usually reliable Jason Dixon had 16 points and 11 rebounds, but save for Mark Macapagal’s 10 points, no other Coke starter managed to score in double digits. Known for their offensive prowess, the Express showed why they are a forced to reckon with this conference by displaying their defensive tenacity after Coke cut a 15-point deficit to just three, 78-81, still 7:55 to go in the game. The Express, however, held the Tigers scoreless for more than three minutes while Thomas and Santos led in pouring in the points and suddenly it was an 89-78 game that clearly took the wind out of Coke’s sails. “It was a hell of a job for the guys the way they stood out in defense," said coach Bo Perasol after the big victory that snapped them out of a two-game slide and gave them an even 2-2 win-loss record. “I told them that offensively they can match up with any team, so it is in defense that they have to improve on. I think they took that to heart," he said. Its balanced scoring, plus a torrid 9-of-10 field shooting to start the game, enabled Air21 to lead by as much as 24-9 in the first quarter, but Coke still managed to crawl back. Ronjay Buenafe, who had 11 points off the bench, joined hands with Gervin in moving the Tigers to within two points four times, the last at 65-67. Despite a rain of treys from the likes of Arboleda and Santos, Coke still threatened at 78-81 on Gervin’s left-handed layup. Meanwhile, Coke forward Mark Telan became the 34th member of the elite 1,000-offensive rebounds club, after collaring an offensive rebound in the third period. The scores: Air 21 (102) Thomas 25, Santos 21, Se 17, Arboleda 17, De Ocampo 10, Canaleta 8, Kramer 2, Cruz 2, Sotto 0. Coke (95) Gervin 26, Dixon 16, Buenafe 11, Macapagal 10, Taulava 9, Belasco 8, Catli 6, Cabagnot 6, Telan 3. Quarterscores: 25-17, 48-41, 67-65, 102-95. - GMANews.TV