Express streak past Red Bull

LEGAZPI CITY — Yancy de Ocampo and Mark Telan stepped up their game and the Air21 Express downed the Red Bull side, 81-74, in a Talk n Text PBA Philippine Cup road game at the Albay Astrodome here last night.

De Ocampo and Telan submitted 15 points and 13 rebounds apiece as Air21 improved its record to 4-5 in the halfway mark of the classification phase of the All-Filipino tourney.

After playing catch-up for the most part, the Express got a huge break in the third as the Bulls faltered on both ends in the last three minutes of the period.

That paved the way for the Express’ decisive 13-1 blast that turned a 47-51 deficit into a 60-52 advantage at the end of the third quarter.

Red Bull didn’t recover and suffered its third loss in nine games, falling to joint second with Barangay Ginebra.

Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra starts the second half of its classification-round campaign when it takes on the slumping Talk n Text squad at the Araneta Coliseum today, looking to gain solo second place behind Sta. Lucia.

The Kings recorded six wins in their first nine games in the tourney with their sixth win coming at the expense of the San Miguel Beermen, 92-87, in their grudge match Friday also at the Big Dome.