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Can the Gin Kings recover?

First Posted 09:30:00 08/10/2008

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Game today:
(Araneta Coliseum)
Game 3
6:30 p.m.- Air21 vs. Ginebra

After a completing a 34-point massacre in Game Two, momentum will be on the Air21 Express' side when they face the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings today in Game Three of the PBA Fiesta Cup Best-of-Seven Finals at the Araneta Coliseum.

Air21 came up with a remarkable performance in Game Two last Friday, scoring a 124-90 trashing of the Kings to even the series at one apiece.

The Kings won Game One, 105-96, but not after surviving an endgame scare as the Express nearly wiped out an 18-point deficit.

Air21's gigantic performance in Game Two put an end to Ginebra's 13-game win streak. The 13 straight wins was the longest in Ginebra's franchise history.

"We're really determined to make a statement that we're for real," Air21 coach Bo Perasol said of the team's victory.

The 34-point gap was the biggest winning margin in Air21’s franchise history.

The debacle was Ginebra's worst loss since a 66-102 blowout against Talk n Text on Feb. 4, 2005 and the most lopsided loss in coach Jong Uichico's career.

The Express, who led by as many as 36 points, had 11 players scoring at least eight points in Game Two.

"All the players responded pretty well. We wanted to put in Ginebra's mind that they're beatable. We can't afford to fall in a 0-2 hole against Ginebra," said Perasol.

Badly outplayed by his counterpart in Game One, Air21 import Steven Thomas shone bright in Game Two by finishing with 10 points, 18 rebounds, five assists and two blocks.

Ginebra's seven-footer import Chris Alexander, who was adjudged the Best Import, tallied 10 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and four blocks.

Jayjay Helterbrand, who was crowned Best Player of the Conference, struggled for four points and failed to finish the game due to a hamstring injury suffered late in the third quarter.

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