ALASKA, AIR21 CHALK UP CONTRASTING VICTORIES

Santos, Devance continue to light up the scoreboards
Philippine Basketball Association website
Thursday, 20 September 2007

Titleholder Alaska and Air21 kept their flickering hopes alive for the 2007 PBA Pre-Season final with contrasting wins over Coca-Cola and Welcoat Wednesday in separate venues.

The Aces drubbed the Tigers, 95-89, at the PUP gym while the Express dominated the Dragons, 112-100, over at the Chiang Kai Shek gym.

Tony de la Cruz, Willie Miller, JR Quinahan, Sonny Thoss and John Ferriols all scored in double figures as the Aces rebounded from a debut loss to the San Miguel Beermen in Group A.

The Express, meanwhile, snapped a two-game slump in Group B with a convincing win over the Dragons largely behind the exploits of Arwind Santos, KG Canaleta, Doug Kramer, JC Intal and Ranidel de Ocampo.

Santos, Canaleta, Kramer, Intal and De Ocampo each scored at least 11 to offset Joe Devance’s 31-point explosion and Jay-R Reyes’s 29-point outing.

The Dragons suffered a second loss in three outings.

De la Cruz paced the Aces with 18 points and joined forces with Ken Bono in delivering the decisive baskets to hold off the Tigers’ fierce endgame chase.

The Tigers picked up their game a little late and remained winless in three starts.

Losing their opening game to the Beermen, the Aces played with great resolve with coach Tim Cone even incurring a technical foul right in the opening period.

The Aces took the first half at 48-35 but had to fend off a furious Coca-Cola rally at endgame.

The Tigers, behind the exploits of Ronjay Buenafe, Kenneth Duremdes and Mark Telan, came within two points in the fourth period.

But the Aces won’t be denied with De la Cruz and Bono delivering at crunch time. (NC)

The scores:

PUP game

Alaska 95 – Dela Cruz 18, Miller 12, Quinahan 10, Thoss 10, Ferriols 10, Aban 9, Hugnatan 8, Luanzon 5, Laure 4, Bono 4, Capus 3, Gonzales 2.
Coca-Cola 89 – Buenafe 16, Telan 16, Isip 14, Duremdes 12, Peek 8, Cabagnot 6, Calimag 5, Tolomia 5, Echavez 3, Misolas 2, Enrile 2.
Quarterscores: 26-19, 48-35, 71-62, 95-89

Chiang Kai Shek game

Air21 112 – Santos 27, Canaleta 18, Kramer 17, Intal 14, De Ocampo 11, Arboleda 9, Dimaunahan 7, Sotto 4, Chia 3, Cruz 2.
Welcoat 100 – Devance 31, Reyes 29, Arana 12, Gelig 8, Mente 6, Wainwright 4, Sta. Maria 4, Lopez 4, Guiyab 2.
Quarterscores: 28-18, 56-42, 84-76,112-100.