By JAY R. GOTERA
The Saudi Gazette
MANILA
BARANGAY Ginebra halted Red Bull’s three-game winning streak, inflicting the Barakos’ first loss, 111-106, Sunday night at the Araneta Coliseum in the PBA Fiesta Conference.
Kings’ import Rod Neally was his usual explosive self in offense, scorching the Barakos with 26 points. He likewise was a tower of power on defense as he caused his Red Bull counterpart James Penny to bleed for his points.
Johhny Abbarientos likewise continued to defy his age, reviving the image of the flashy and court-savvy point guard that he was in the mid-1990s.
Although Eric Menk continued to play below par, Ronald Tubid and Sunday Salvacion played heads-up basketball all throughout the game to compensate for the absence of nationals Jayjay Helterbrand and Mark Caguioa.
In the first game, the Air21 Express remained unbeaten after three games after coming from behind to defeat Talk ‘N Text, 124-118, in overtime.
Express import Shawn Daniels posted the conference’s first triple-double with 26 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists.
With Red Bull’s defeat at the hands of Ginebra, Air21 found itself at the top of the standings and the only unbeaten team so far in the conference.
Almost everybody stood up and delivered for Air21, but it was Daniels who made the big plays in the crucial moments.
His 10th assist paved the way for the Gary David’s three-point shot near the left corner with 10.3 second remaining in regulation that forced overtime.
Daniels, who first recorded his triple-double of 24 points, 20 rebounds and 13 assists in a 114-103 win over Sta. Lucia in last season’s Fiesta Conference, also scored the Express’ first two baskets in overtime to keep Air21 in the game before David took over and sparked the run that ended TNT’s hope of winning the game.
Mark Telan had 21 points and 14 rebounds and rookie Arwind Santos had 12 and two blocks for the Express, who outrebounded the Phone Pals, 63-54. Homer Se added 12 points and Nino Canaleta contributed 10 markers.
It was frustrating loss for the Phone Pals who controlled the opening half that saw them leading as much as 16 points only to fade out in the second half.
J.J Sullinger led the Talk ‘N Text with 31 points, 22 of them in the first half to help the Phone Pals erect a 60-44 advantage at halftime.
But he went cold in the second half apparently due to fatigue. With TNT up by two with three minutes left, Sullinger had to be taken out for a breather after suffering from leg cramps.
Talk ‘N Text had a chance to steal the game after David tied the game in regulation with his three-pointer. After a time out, the Phone Pals went to Allado, who threw a long attempt over Daniels. The ball bounced off the rim but Sullinger grabbed the offensive rebound.
Unfortunately for the Phone Pals his fadeaway attempt from point blank range went short as time expired, sending the game into OT.
The scores:
Air21 124 – Daniels 26, Telan 21, David 20, Santos 15, Se 12, Canaleta 10, Arboleda 9, Dimaunahan 8, Torion 2, Andaya 1, Bernardo 0.
Talk ‘N Text 118 – Sullinger 31, Washington 25, Allado 20, Belano 12, Cardona 9, de Ocampo Y. 8, Billones 6, Carey 5, Fran 2, Noble 0, Pablo 0.
Quarterscores: 18-28, 44-60, 74-83, 107-107, 124-118
Coca-Cola 82, San Miguel 64
Meanwhile, San Miguel’s woes continued Saturday night, losing to Coca-Cola, 82-64 in a road game in Tubod, Lanao del Norte in Mindanao.
The Coca-Cola Tigers pounced on Paul McMillan’s so-so debut with San Miguel, a team crippled by injuries to key players, the transfer of two starters to the Philippine national team and its failure to get quality import.
Minus national players Danny Seigle and Dondon Hontiveros and injured stars Lordy Tugade and Danny Ildefonso, the Beermen still had no one to turn to with McMillan proving no better than his predecessor Vidal Massiah.
McMillan chipped in a measly 11 points and committed nine errors, outclassed by Anthony Johnson as the Beermen remained winless in three starts in the season-ending tourney.
Chris Calaguio also tossed in 11 and no other San Miguel player finished in double figures.
Johnson showed up McMillan and the Tigers slowly pulled away en route to their third win in four games.
The prolific Coke import had another solid all-round game with 26 points, 13 rebounds and six assists and anchored the team’s breakaway from 61-56 count at the start of the final quarter.
McMillan came out flat and the Beermen struggled with him, falling behind by 11 at 16-27 four minutes into the second period.
The Tigers were just 38 percent from the field while the Beermen were worse at 30 percent in the first 24 minutes of play.
The scores:
Coca-Cola 82 – Johnson 26, Miranda 14, Avenido 10, Arigo 9, Misolas 6, Peek 5, Francisco 5, Yeo 4, Antonio 3, Sotto 0.
San Miguel 64 – McMillan 11, Calaguio 11, Pena 9, Cablay 7, Racela 6, Tenorio 6, Wilson 4, Adducul 4, Adriano 4, Espinas 2, Gonzales 0.
Quarterscores: 16-15, 37-33, 61-56, 82-64.
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