AIR21 TO SETTLE SCORE VS SAN MIGUEL IN GRUDGE MATCH

Sta. Lucia tackles Talk n Text; Mendoza sanctioned

Wednesday, 26 November 2008

Air21 coach Bo Perasol and his Express have a business to settle with San Miguel. There's a lot more at stake in this encounter than to just get even. That's why Perasol said they should be "very cautious in their approach." "Ang importante lang, we should have the right motivation and the right game plan," he said. The 5 p.m. rematch Wednesday means so much for both the Express and the Beermen, who have gone different ways since that November 5 duel. The first meeting between the two teams went through double overtime and was marred by controversy. San Miguel eventually won the game, 130-129. Air21 placed the game under protest but it was denied by commissioner Sonny Barrios. Air21 officials contended they had won the game at the end of the first overtime on Ranidel de Ocampo's 3-point shot with 9.8 seconds remaining. Game officials, however, counted the shot as a 2-point basket, necessitating another extra five minutes. In ruling against the protest, Barrios pointed to an existing league rule that doesn't provide game officials the benefit of a review in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter and overtime periods unless there is an official challenge from a team's head coach and only during dead ball situations. Unfortunately, SMB quickly went for the throw-in after De Ocampo's basket, in the process leaving Air21 with no time to manifest a valid challenge. The Express, who are riding high on a three-game winning streak, will have the chance to prove their point. And if they manage to trip the Beermen, it will be very sweet. Air21 and Sta. Lucia are in joint third with identical 6-5 records but a win would push the Express into second spot, dislodging SMB (7-5), which is currently behind league leader Alaska (9-3). As much as he wanted to prove a point, Perasol was frank enough to admit that it would take more than just motivation to beat SMB. "Playing defense is always key when a team goes up against a team full of talent like San Miguel. It's easier said than done, but we have to do it to have a fighting chance," he said. Their bench depth didn't seem to matter for the Beermen in their next four games, winning just one and losing three in a row. SMB coach Siot Tanquingcen isn't exactly pushing the panic button. But he sounds worried with the way his charges have been going through their business lately. "We have to come out and play with a sense of urgency. The last few games we were flat," he said. Sta. Lucia and Talk N Text (5-6) also try to bounce back from embarrassing defeats to stay in contention for an outright playoff spot. The defending champion Realtors collide with the Tropang Texters at 7:30 p.m. In their first meeting of the season last Oct. 12, Sta. Lucia routed TnT, 117-96. Meanwhile, Sta. Lucia veteran guard Paolo Mendoza was suspended for one game effective Wednesday and fined P20,000 for deliberately throwing the ball at an opponent (Paul Artadi) during the Realtors’ 81-93 defeat to the Barangay Ginebra Kings last Saturday, the same day TnT absorbed an 86-113 pounding from Alaska. (DBC)