Express stay alive, overrun Giants

When the going gets rough, Renren Ritualo gets going.

With Air21’s back against the wall, Ritualo exploded with a career-high 40 points, leading the Express to an emphatic 101-87 victory over the Purefoods Chunkee Giants last night in Game Three of their San Mig Coffee PBA Fiesta Cup Final Four matchup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Avoiding falling in a hole no team has ever come out of in a best-of-seven playoff, the Express now have a chance to pull even in Game Four tomorrow at the Araneta Coliseum.

"I felt I was the missing link in the first two games and I need to step up tonight. Kaya sabi ko sa sarili ko kahit ano ang feeling ko paghawak ko ang bola, I have to take charge for the team," said Ritualo.

"We’re facing a must-win situation that’s why I didn’t hesitate to take matters in my hands," added Ritualo, who banged away nine three-pointers on the way to improving his previous career best of 36 points.

Ritualo’s output in the game was the best by any local player in the league this season, erasing Ginebra hitman Mark Caguioa’s 34-point showing during the classification round.

"Renren single-handedly lifted us in this game. He’s the catalyst who made it all happen for us tonight," said Air21 coach Bo Perasol.

Curiously, Ritualo’s performance dipped in the first two games of the semifinals where the former La Salle Archer, averaging 18 points a game in the tournament, totaled only 24 points. Worse, he committed one crucial error at endgame that allowed Purefoods to steal the win in Game Two.

Ritualo said he made a conscious effort to make up for being the goat Wednesday.

And he intends to get going tomorrow. "Our chance to reach the finals and hopefully win the championship is in our hands. We all have to step up, watch each other’s back and try to keep on improving," he said.

Ritualo fired three of his nine treys in the third quarter, sparking a dizzying run that had the Express darting to a 28-point bulge at 86-58.

Red Bull utterly dominated Barangay Ginebra early on then weathered the Kings’ fourth-quarter storm to pull off a 93-85 win and a two-game-to-one lead in their own semis showdown.

Larry Fonacier scored a career-high 22 points while James Penny came through with clutch plays in the face of Ginebra’s endgame chase as the Bulls moved within two wins of the finals.

That was the Express’ biggest lead in the game which they dominated from start to finish.

Still, coach Perasol expressed some disappointment as his troops relaxed a bit at the finish.

"I don’t like that kind of ending. It showed that we really don’t have a killer instinct. We have to change our attitude," said Perasol.

Ronald Tubid finally returned from a foot injury but only played one minute after figuring in a near fight with Egay Billones towards the end of the third period.