MANILA, Philippines – Marcus Douthit did his primary job to defend and tend the boards, and the Air21 locals rose up to do the scoring as the Express pulled the rug from under the previously unbeaten Talk n Text squad, 89-78, in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.
Douthit grabbed 28 rebounds while Nelbert Omolon, Jojo Duncil, Mark Isip and RJ Jazul all put in double-figure outputs to make up for their import’s measly six-point production as the Express nailed a second win in four starts in the mid-season tourney.
Omolon stood tallest with 23 points and 17 rebounds while Isip added 16 markers and five boards as the two former Meralco Bolts continued to provide the Express the needed boost.
“Our team is different now from the previous conference, and Omolon and Isip are obviously of big help improving our team,” said Air21 coach Franz Pumaren.
“This is our greatest achievement so far. This win is definitely a morale-booster,” Pumaren also said.
Pumaren was elated they upset the Tropang Texters even with Douthit struggling for only six points on 2-of-13 shooting.
“We’re lucky we caught Talk n Text off. They started flat, and we grabbed the opportunity,” said Pumaren. “Of course, Talk n Text’s unfamiliarity with their import also came to play. They struggled on the court.”
The Express shackled down the Texters on defense, holding the Philippine Cup champs to their lowest output in a game in the season.
Harvey Donnell, the rebounding champ in the last Chinese Basketball Association tourney, collected 28 rebounds – the most by any player in the PBA in the last four seasons – but floundered with an 8-of-20 shooting.
The whole TnT team was held to 32.3-percent shooting as the Texters suffered their first loss since ruling the Philippine Cup.
“The plan was to hold down their fastbreak points and their total points. I think we did our assignment,” said Pumaren.