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Game today, August 13, 2008:
Araneta Coliseum
Game 4, Air21 leads series, 2-1
7 p.m. - Air21 vs. Magnolia
The Air21 Express look to inch closer to their first-ever title when they battle the struggling Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings on Wednesday in Game 4 of the PBA Fiesta Cup Best-of-Seven Finals series at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Express dropped the series-opener, 96-105, but won the next two games to surge to a 2-1 lead, something that many did not expect for the huge underdogs.
Air21 dumped Ginebra by a mile in Game Two, 124-90, and followed up that big win with a, 97-87 victory in Sunday’s Game 3.
“A 2-1 lead is different from 1-2 and one win away from 3-1, which is one win away from the championship,” Air21 head coach Bo Perasol told pba.ph.
Nino “KG” Canaleta exploded in Game 3, going five-for-five from the three-point land to finish with 17 points, 12 of them in the fourth period where the Express overhauled deficits in the previous three quarters.
“I think KG coming off the bench and hitting those threes broke the back of Ginebra,” said Perasol, who also got big games from Gary David and import Steven Thomas.
Thomas scored 20 points and 20 rebounds, outplaying the taller and bigger Ginebra import Chris Alexander, who settled for 14 points and 17 rebounds.
Alexander, however, was monster in defense with 11 blocks, the most by any player since 1989 when Purefoods’ Jerry Codinera had the same output. Toyota's Andy Fields notched a league-most 13 in 1981.
Gary David was at his usual deadly form as he tallied a game-high 25 points.
“We generated offense when we needed it the most from Thomas and KG,” said Perasol. “I always get points from Gary, but the post plays by Steve were confidence-boosters for his teammates. He proved once again he can go one-on-one against Alexander.”
A crucial thing that hounds Ginebra is its decimating lineup.
Ronald Tubid is already out due to a dislocated ankle while Jay-jay Helterbrand failed to play in Game 3 due to a hamstring injury.
“Napakalaking bagay iyung pagkawala ni Jayjay. Iyung composure na ibinibigay niya sa team malaking epekto noon,” noted Perasol.
Mark Caguioa and Eric Menk, had 21 and 17 points, respectively, in Game 3 but the absence of Helterbrand was just too much for the Kings.
