Talk n Text sustained its streak minus two key players, MacMac Cardona and Harvey Carey, while Air21 remained on a skid despite the return of chief playmaker Wynne Arboleda and its acquisition of Gabby Espinas.
Renren Ritualo scored 16 points in the opening quarters as the Pals bucked the absence of Cardona and Carey in rolling past the Express, 127-115, in the 2007-08 Smart PBA Philippine Cup at the Astrodome last night.
With Ritualo leading their charge, the Pals established control early, leading by as many as 25 points before quelling an Air21 fourth-quarter uprising for their third straight victory and their eighth in 14 games in all.
The Express suffered a fourth straight defeat despite the return of Arboleda and the entry of Espinas – the team’s new acquisition from San Miguel.
Having lost five of its last six games, Air21 tumbled down to ninth place with a 5-9 card.
“We came out strong and jumped the gun on them. They’re able to get back but we kept our poise and held on. Basically, the boys showed sense of urgency,” said coach Derick Pumaren whose boys are in the thick of the fight for outright entry into the semifinals or quarterfinals.
“Our immediate goal is the quarters. We’re in contention for outright semis entry but we’re taking it one game at a time,” Pumaren added.
The Pals started the game with nine unanswered points
and held on to the lead to the finish, dealing the
Express their worst skid under coach Bo Perasol.
Ritualo and Jay Washington stepped up in the absence
of Cardona and Carey who served a one-game suspension.
Ritualo went 4-of-8 from the three-point area and led
all scorers with 26 points while Washington added 25
points, seven rebounds, five assists and three blocks.
“We hardly missed the absence of Macmac and Harvey
with Renren and Washington picking up the slack,” said
Pumaren.
Ali Peek, Jimmy Alapag, Kalani Ferreria, Yancy de
Ocampo and Don Allado also put in significant numbers
making it easier for the Pals to avenge a 115-118
defeat to the Express in their previous tiff.
Alapag put up a double-double job with 15 points and
14 assists while Ferreria had a near triple-double
with 11 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
Air21 leaned on clutch plays by Arboleda, Arwind
Santos and Ranidel de Ocampo as the Express rallied to
within four midway through the fourth quarter.
The Pals, however, hardly panicked and, in turn, went
to Washington and Peek to restore order in their game.
The scores:
First Game
Talk n Text 127 – Ritualo 26, Washington 25, Peek 17,
Alapag 15, Ferreria 11, De Ocampo 11, Allado 10,Belano
8, Aljamal 3, Billones 1, Fran 0.
Air21 115 – De Ocampo 20, Santos 19, Kramer 14,
Canaleta 14, Espinas 12, Arbolerda 11, Cruz 10, Se 8,
Intal 5, Chia 2,. Magsumbol 0, Sotto 0.
Quarterscores: 34-27, 58-44, 94-80, 127-115