80-85 % sa mga titser bayran na

Kenneth Duremdes came out of his shell curiously against his former team Sta. Lucia, helping the Coca-Cola Tigers drub the Realtors, 114-95, last night in the Talk n Text PBA Fiesta Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

Duremdes, the 1998 MVP awardee whose game is on the decline, rifled in five treys and paced his team with 23 points as the Tigers got back on the winning track nearing playoff time.

“I got the opportunity and I seized it,” said Duremdes, drawing substantial minutes for the first time in a long while.

“I liked his match-up and it’s good he delivered. He showed up big time tonight,” said coach Binky Favis of Duremdes, averaging career-lows 4.7 points and nine minutes a game this conference.

Duremdes came through with his most productive performance since scoring 27 points in Sta. Lucia’s 117-123 defeat to Ginebra last conference.

He said it’s a given a player is always inspired to play against his former team. The former Adamson Falcon was dealt by Sta. Lucia to Coca-Cola early this conference as part of a five-player trade that also involved Alex Cabagnot.

Cabagnot also had a solid performance against his former teammates, putting up 19 rebounds and 14 assists as the Tigers improved to 7-9 heading into final stretch of the elimination round.

“We talked about the importance of playing well and not about the standings which is beyond our control. What’s in our control is what we can be come playoff time,” said Favis.

James Penny came up with 29 points and 19 rebounds and Red Bull overcame an eight-point halftime deficit in topping Air21, 105-101, to seize the solo lead at 11-5 in the nightcap.

“We just couldn’t cope with their speed and toughness in the first half. At halftime, I told the players huwag na kaming lumabas ng dugout kung hindi namin ito kayang sabayan sa second half,” said coach Yeng Guiao as his Bulls relegated the Express to joint fourth with the Talk n Text Phone Pals at 9-6.