Air21 shackles high-scoring Dollard, routs Barako

MANILA, Philippines -- Air21, solid in its debut against Globalport and even in a close loss to Talk n Text the last time out, continued to make good impression as the Express routed the Barako Bull Energy Cola, 103-85, in the PLDT Home Tvolution PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday night.

The Express kept Barako Bull import Joshua Dollard in check and battered the Energy Cola in the last three quarters in what’s easily their best game in a long while.

Herve Lamizana, as in his PBA debut, saved his energy for a big second-half explosion and Aldrech Ramos had his own key attack in his first game in an Air21 uniform as the Express improved to 2-1 while sending the Energy Cola down to 1-2.

Meanwhile, Alaska Milk and Meralco both go for win No. 2 as they tangle with Rain or Shine and Globalport, respectively, in the Petron Blaze-sponsored Saturday special at the Big Dome.

For Air21 coach Franz Pumaren, the biggest key was their defensive effort against Dollard.

“Our primary concern going to this game was to hold down Dollard. In my personal opinion, Herve is the best defensive import right now and we saw how he limited Dollard’s production,” said Pumaren.

“We really played terrific defense. For us to hold down the high-scoring Barako Bull team was a testament to our good dedication to play defense,” Pumaren added.

Dollard, with whopping averages of 44.5 points and 18.5 rebounds in his first two games in the local pro league, was limited to 12 markers and nine boards by the Express.

Giving the Air21 coaching staff and management extra satisfaction was the remarkable debut by Ramos with the team.

“Aldrech gave us additional scoring from the outside,” said Pumaren of their new trade acquisition (from Alaska Milk) who went 4-of-4 from the three-point area and finished with 17 markers.

Lamizana led all scorers with 24 points, all coming in the second half.

Mark Cardona and Asi Taulava also put in double-digit outputs and the rest had their share in a great team effort that had Air21 matching the biggest winning margin in the tourney thus far.

From 16-17 down after the first quarter, the Express hit great strides and pummeled the Energy Cola in the last three quarters.

So impressive were the Express in this game as they led by as many as 35 at 93-58.

The Air21 reserves worked on a decisive assault in the second quarter as the Express established a 17-point spread at 43-26.

Ramos, a former FEU Tamaraw and ex-Gilas reserve, nailed a trey and made a three-point play off an alley-oop pass by Jonas Villanueva and a foul by Ronjay Buenafe to highlight the Express’ second-quarter breakaway.

Air21 took the half at 45-32 even as Lamizana was held scoreless and contributed just six rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block.

As Lamizana found offensive rhythm in the third canto, the Express roared on and pulled away farther at 67-48.
After going 0-of-4 from the field in the first half, the Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire native poured in 20 points in the third on 5-of-7 field goals and 9-of-12 charities.