Air21 finally wins at playoffs, forces decider vs SMB

Games Thursday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

5:45 p.m. – Alaska vs San Mig Coffee

8 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs Meralco

MANILA, Philippines – Three-year-old PBA franchise Air21 – in its Shopinas lineage – finally notched a first-ever playoff game victory, pulling the rug from under San Miguel Beer, 92-79, to force a do-or-die setto in their PLDT Home TVolution PBA Commissioner’s Cup Final Eight matchup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Tuesday night.

With a big game from Sean Anthony and crucial endgame binges by Wesley Witherspoon and Asi Taulava, the seventh-ranked Express surprised the second-seeded Beermen with a dominant performance that put them in a good position to make the semifinals for the first time in eight conferences.

Only nine of 72 teams facing a match-up with a twice-to-beat advantage have defied great odds on the way to the semis. The Express have a chance to do the feat tomorrow.

“I know this is going to be a short-lived celebration as we play them again Friday. Playing them is tough. I just hope we’ll continue to do what we’re capable of doing,” said Air21 coach Franz Pumaren.

“I’m having a weird feeling as we’re up against my former team that is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its grand slam season (in 1989),” added Pumaren, a former Beerman.

Anthony poured in a personal conference-high 25 points as hit great stride with Witherspoon and Taulava resting on the bench for quite a while in the final half due to fouls.

Witherspoon and Taulava helped preserve Anthony’s exploits as they checked back strong at crunch time, delivering dagger baskets.

Witherspoon scored 11 of his 18 points in the last 4:35 of play while Taulava drained two key buzzer-beaters helping the Express fend off the Beermen’s endgame chase.

More than holding their own at the paint against their taller foes, the Express started with a 10-1 tear and led by as many as 17 at 41-24 before taking the half at 45-34.

Gritty determination by the Express had them outscoring the Beermen, 10-0, on second-chance points in the first two quarters.

Anthony piled up 21 points in the final half as the Express completed a wire-to-wire victory to snap a three-game losing skein. Air21 had actually dropped five of its last six games in the elims.

“Anthony was phenomenal tonight,” said Pumaren of Anthony delivering a total of 25 points on an amazing 26-minute off-the-bench job.

“Then there’s Asi and Witherspoon who made me look good with their big baskets coming off the bench (at endgame),” Pumaren also said.