ANTIPOLO – Air21, behind the sterling games of Gary David and Arwind Santos, pulled one over Magnolia for the first time this PBA season last night.
David, despite a minor eye injury suffered early in the contest, came through with a personal conference high 24 points while Santos added 15, including 13 in the last six minutes as the Express rolled over the Beverage Masters, 96-90, in the Smart Fiesta Conference at the Ynares Center here.
Steve Thomas held his ground against Jameel Watkins, helping Air21 notch a second straight win and its fifth in its last six outings.
Breaking the Beverage Masters’ domination of their head-on duels this season, the Express caught up with the Coca-Cola Tigers at third place on their identical 6-4 win-loss cards.
The Beverage Masters, slowed down by 28 turnovers, slid to sixth place with a 5-5 record.
Air21 produced 33 points off those Magnolia errors, counting crucial breakaway baskets by Santos and David in the homestretch that scuttled the Beverage Masters.
Incidentally, Air21 has won all of its last 10 games where it held its opponent below 100 points.
“We took away their three-point shots, Steve (Thomas) cancelled out Watkins’ game and we made our shots at the finish. I guess everything fell into place for us,” said Air21 coach Bo Perasol.
Santos had made only two points before getting away with nine straight markers to highlight Air21’s breakaway from a 78-all deadlock.
Protecting a shaky 91-87 lead with 1:22 left to play, Santos himself knocked down four straight charities to all but wrap up the win for the Express.
The Express got off to a slow start and struggled early on with David needing to sit down for a few minutes after his left eye was accidentally poked by Dondon Hontiveros.
Purefoods got back into groove in the second half and turned back Talk n Text, 84-79, for its fourth win against five losses in the nightcap.