Daniels, David lift Air21 over Pals

Air21 improved its best start in a tourney winning a third straight game keyed by Shawn Daniels’ triple-double job and Gary David’s heroics at crunch time last night in the Talk n Text PBA Fiesta Cup.

Daniels played steadily throughout while David came through with the game on the line as the Express overcame a 16-point halftime deficit in whipping the Talk n Text Phone Pals, 124-118, in overtime at the Araneta Coliseum.

Daniels finished with his second triple-double in the local pro loop with 26 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists while David wound up with 20 points, including a triple that sent the game into overtime.

"The boys responded to my challenge. Before the game, I challenged them if they can prove that our 2-0 start in the tourney is for real. The boys showed they can stand up to the challenge of formidable teams like Talk n Text," said Air21 coach Bo Perasol.

The youthful Air21 mentor made special mention of David. "He proved he can shoot at crunch time," said Perasol of David, who bailed the Express out of trouble with a trey off a hand-over by Daniels, tying the count at 107-all with 10.3 seconds left in regulation.

Talk n Text bungled its last chances of winning it in regulation when Don Allado misfired a 15-footer from the left quartercourt and JJ Sullinger missed a fall-away shot just before the buzzer sounded.

The Express came away with a decisive 10-to-nothing run in overtime as they eventually took their third successive win in the season-ending tourney.

The Pals suffered a second loss in three starts.

Philippine Cup champion Barangay Ginebra measured up to the challenge of Fiesta Cup titleholder Red Bull and scored a 111-105 win in the second game.

Mark Telan, Arwind Santos, Homer Se, Niño Canaleta and Wynne Arboleda chipped in key contributions for the Express as they sustained the momentum of their back-to-back wins over the Sta. Lucia Realtors and the Coca-Cola Tigers.

Santos scored on a two-handed breakaway slam while Arboleda struck on a fastbreak layup following two straight turnovers by the Pals.

as the Express seized control at 119-113.

Actually, the Express took some time to get their game going, trailing by 16 at 44-60 at the end of the first half.

Sullinger dominated the first half with 22 points, eight rebounds and four assists only to lose steam, suffering leg cramps with 3:04 left in the extra period.

Returning to play after a brief rest, Sullinger lost possession to a double-teaming defense resulting to two free throws by Daniels that made it 121-113 for Air21.