Express, Kings oust Aces, Painters

MANILA, Philippines - Air21 kept thriving on sudden deaths, notching a fourth one behind torrid third quarter shooting and a gutsy stand in the face of a searing Alaska rally, hacking out a 97-94 victory and snatching a Final Four berth in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Araneta Coliseum last night.

Barangay Ginebra didn’t disappoint its legion of fans, booking a place in the semifinals with a 92-82 drubbing of Rain or Shine later in the night.

Nate Brumfield struggled for only 12 points but Mark Caguioa took charge, making a personal season-high 30 as the Kings got past the Elasto Painters.

Caguioa finished with double-double numbers as he also grabbed 11 rebounds in a big game carrying the Kings to a semifinal duel with Smart Gilas Pilipinas.

Joshua Urbiztondo knocked in four straight triples to cap Air21’s scorching 46-point third-quarter explosion that turned a 38-51 halftime deficit into an 84-71 lead heading to the final period.

The Express held sway majority of the fourth period then checked an impending foldup in time to frustrate the Aces for the right to play the Talk n Text Tropang Texters in the semifinals.

It was Air21’s first semis stint in the last four conferences and only fifth overall in franchise history with the Lina Group of Companies ball club seeking a second finals appearance against fancied TnT in their best-of-five semis showdown beginning tomorrow, also at the Big Dome.

“It’s everybody’s dream to play in the finals and get the championship. We dream of that and we’re excited in our playoff battle with Talk n Text,” said Air21 coach Bong Ramos.

“We’ll not be contented winning this series. We’re excited to play in the semifinals and we’ll do our best to win it,” said Urbiztondo, who proved to be Air21’s surprise package last night, getting away with 17 points on 5-of-9 three-point shooting.

Urbiztondo, Dondon Hontiveros and Danny Seigle converted seven of eight three-point attempts to highlight Air21’s third quarter surge that pushed the Express ahead by 13 at the end of the period after trailing by the same margin at the turn.

Forty-six points was Air21’s largest output in a quarter in franchise history and the highest for any team in a quarter in the last four conferences.

Playing the clock a little early, the Express lost their rhythm, enabling the Aces to threaten to within three, 91-94, with 38.9 seconds left to play.

JayR Reyes and Dondon Hontiveros, however, buried crucial free throws in the closing seconds, and Air21 preserved the win that kept the team on track for a breakthrough feat.

“When our new guys (Seigle, Hontiveros, Dorian Peña and Paul Artadi) came in (via a trade with San Miguel), I thought it was already late in the tourney. The guys proved me wrong. They peaked at the right time,” said Ramos.

“The new guys gave us a new culture. They brought in their winning attitude and it rubbed off to the other guys,” said Urbiztondo.

Hontiveros banged away four triples and finished with 24 points, Seigle added 14 points and six rebounds while Peña chipped in 11 rebounds and three points helping Air21 through in this sudden death match.

Import Alpha Bangura had his presence felt in their third-quarter onslaught, firing 13 points and finishing with 28 on top of eight rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block against four turnovers.

LD Williams buckled down to work a little late, putting in 11 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter.

The Aces saw a ray of hope when the Express worked on the gameclock and went scoreless for a four-minutes stretch, allowing Alaska to close in at 91-94 as they missed 14 field-goal attempt and committed two errors.