David fuels Air21 fightback over Alaska 5

Reserve guard Gary David played a major role for Air21 last night, firing a career-high 28 points and keying the Express’ stirring come-from-behind 88-83 victory over a hardluck Alaska side in the San Mig Coffee-PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

David scattered 15 points in the second half and teamed up with Ranidel de Ocampo in the last quarter as the Express completed their fightback from 23 points down to notch their fifth win in 10 games and tie their victims and the idle Red Bull Barakos at fourth place.

A game that seemed all but wrapped up for Alaska took a startling twist in the final nine minutes as the Express came up with a barrage of baskets — 32 points — while holding the Aces to just nine points in the last nine minutes of play.

After Tee McClary scored on a layup for a 79-74 Alaska lead, Ranidel de Ocampo knocked in an eight-footer and Shawn Daniels scored in the lane to make it a one-point game.

On Alaska possession, Daniels knocked the ball off Tony dela Cruz. David didn’t score on the transition but he drew a foul from McClary in the act of shooting.

He sank both free throws as Air 21 took the lead for the first time with 2:05 left and safely protected the rest of the way.

"It wasn’t just our skills that enabled us to win. It with God’s blessing that we we’re able to pull this one," said Air 21 coach Bo Perasol afterwards.

"By the time Alaska had big lead in the third quarter I already gave up. I just told the boys that if we’re gonna lose, let’s go down respectably," Perasol confessed. "I’m jus the boys responded well."

Wynne Arboleda scored 13 points including a huge three in the closing seconds that ended any hopes by the Aces to turn the game around. Daniels poured eight of his 12 points in the fourth while Ranidel de Ocampo added 11, nine in the last seven minutes.

Their third consecutive loss was jolting a blow for the Cone and his Aces, who have lost the previous two games by blowouts.