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AIR21
failed to show the poise that gave it a breakthrough
conference last season and yielded to an inspired Rain
or Shine, the former Welcoat team, 120-102, in the KFC
Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup
at the Astrodome in Pasay City.
The
Elasto Painters, who finished dead last in its first two
seasons in the league, got the production from its
sensational rookies Solomon Mercado and Gabe Norwood and
Eddie Laure, Jayr Reyes and Ryan Arana also rose to the
occasion to frustrate the debut of the Express, who were
runners-up in the last conference last season.
The
Elasto Painters led by as many as 109-89 before going on
to post their winning margin, their biggest since
stunning Ginebra by 18 points almost a year ago.
Air21
simply self-destructed with veterans Homer Se and Wynne
Arboleda and third-year pro Arwind Santos could not find
their mark and worst, were ejected one after another
because of various infractions.
The
expulsions left the Express with no reliable man as they
fell to the Asian Coatings franchise for only the second
time in nine total meetings.
The
victory was the first time the Elasto Painters triumphed
in their first game assignment. But coach Caloy Garcia
stressed it was just one game.
“Sana
hindi maging complacent ang mga bata because
of this,” said Garcia, who is at the helm of the team
for only the second conference. “But definitely this is
a very different team and they showed they are capable
of playing with the big boys.”
The win
put the Elasto Painters on track for their short-term
goal of avoiding the cellar, like in their first four
conferences.
“Again,
this is just our first game and we’re still the youngest
team in the league. But ipinakita nilang they’re
really made for the PBA. Iba talaga ang puso ng mga
bata,” Garcia stated.
Mercado,
acquired with Laure for Joe Devance and Rain or Shine’s
2010 and 2011 second-round picks, had a game-high 29
points, fashioning the best rookie debut since Asi
Taulava’s 32 for Talk ’N text in 1999.
The man
they call the younger version of Mark Caguioa also had
seven rebounds, four assists and just one turnover in 34
minutes of action.
The
31-year-old Laure had 20 points for his highest output
the last six seasons while Arana and Reyes wound up with
17 points each.
Norwood,
the top overall pick, only had six points, two rebounds
and three assists in 25 minutes, but was responsible for
Arboleda’s ejection because of a second technical foul
at the 1:13 mark of the third period.
It was
the same infraction that Santos made in the final 7:04
mark—against Mercado.
Se’s
violation was more severe and could be slapped a
one-game suspension. He was called for a flagrant
foul-penalty 2 for planting an elbow on Mark Andaya’s
face in a rebound play with 4:17 to go in the second
quarter.
Ranidel
de Ocampo led Air21 with 22 points, 13 rebounds and six
assists. |
