Express scuttle Dragons with key defensive stops

Air21, a team noted for its offense, showed last night it can thrive on defense, too.

Making key stops down the stretch, the Express held injury-hit Welcoat Paints scoreless in the last four minutes to score a 88-80 victory in the Smart-PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

Arwind Santos poured in a career-high 29 points, including two thunderous slams in the fourth quarter although it was the Express’ defense in the clutch that helped them clinch their fifth victory in 10 games.

Trailing, 77-80, with over four minutes remaining, Air21 shut down Welcoat the rest of the way while scoring an 11-0 blitz to complete the come-from-behind triumph.

“We made them commit errors down the stretch because of our defense,” said Air21 coach Bo Perasol.

It was the best defensive job by Air21, which came into the game as the league-worst team in defense by allowing its opponents an average of 104.6 points a game, since beating Magnolia, formerly San Miguel Beer, 88-78, on March 14 in the 2006 Fiesta Conference.

Ranidel de Ocampo unloaded 15 points, including six in that closing run that finished off the Dragons, who fell to their fourth straight setback and eighth overall against three wins.

The Dragons appeared headed for a big win after Jireh Ibañez drained a triple that shoved Welcoat to the top, 80-77, heading into the last 4.17 of the contest.

That proved to be the Dragons’ last basket.

Ryan Arana, a rookie out of La Salle, also had a career best 17 points but limped out after a bad fall following a three-point attempt in the dying seconds. Welcoat also missed the services of the injured Jay-Ar Reyes, Rob Wainright and Froilan Baguion.

The Express earlier came away with a 12-0 binge to close to within four, 33-37, less than three minutes left in the second period.