Express ram thru Texters

MANILA, Philippines - Air21, a virtual new mix with three new players including PBA returnees Asi Taulava and Mike Burstcher, outlasted Talk n Text in a gripping battle, eking out a 106-102 win to stay in the fight for the PBA Governors Cup playoffs at the Philsports Arena last night.

Taulava provided the inside presence, and KG Canaleta and import Zach Graham supplied the firepower, combining for 57 points, as the Express ended a four-game slide and caught up with the Tropang Texters at 2-5 (win-loss).

“We were inspired by the shakeup of our lineup,” said Air21 coach Franz Pumaren, referring to the recent trades worked on by the management, specially the Taulava deal.

Petron Blaze roared to a seventh straight win and secured top seeding in the playoffs with a 103-100 win over Alaska Milk in the nightcap.

“Our mindset is we want to play no matter what the situation is. We want to build character for our team,” said Petron coach Gie Abanilla.

On the eve of the match, Air21 also acquired Joseph Yeo for Mark Isip. Taulava stood tall with his solid efforts at the paint.

“For his age, Asi still has the respect of the other teams, other players. He gave us energy. And with his basketball experience, he showed he can easily adjust with whatever environment,” Pumaren said.

“The management did a great deal. They got Asi who helped us stay in the battle for the playoffs,” said Canaleta.

Inspired by the entry of Taulava, Canaleta fired six triples and a total of 30 points while Graham added 27 as the Express nailed their second win in the conference following their 93-82 drubbing of the San Mig Coffee Mixers on Aug. 17.

Air21, however, remained in the cellar, half-game behind eighth placer Barangay Ginebra (2-4) and a full game adrift seventh-running Globalport (3-4).

The last two placers after the one-round-robin elims phase will miss the playoffs.

Talk n Text dropped to joint ninth with Air21 after a third straight loss and fifth in their last seven games. It’s the Texters’ worst start in an import-laced conference in over a decade.

The Texters need to sweep their last two games versus the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and the Ginebra Kings to have a shot at the post-elim plays.

The Express, meanwhile, have the Meralco Bolts and the Alaska Milk Aces as their last assignments.

It could well be Tony Mitchell’s farewell game with the Texters likely to gamble on a new import in their remaining outings.

The Express hurdled Mitchell and the Texters on a 8-3 closing run in the last two minutes of play.

Fouled while shooting from beyond the arc, Jimmy Alapag knocked in all three charities as the Texters took the half at 52-49.