MANILA, 20 March 2007 — Imports in the PBA Fiesta Cup make all the difference for their respective teams.
Sunday night’s games proved no exception. Shawn Daniels chalked up the tournament’s first triple double and led Air21 to a tightrope 124-118 overtime victory over Talk ‘N Text that left the Express alone on top after Red Bull fell opposite Barangay Ginebra.
The beefy reinforcement tossed in 26 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and issued 10 assists in a sterling performance backed up by a steady local crew as Air21 remained undefeated in three games.
Talk ‘N Text was in the game all throughout, even leading in the final 10 seconds of regulation and being dragged into extra time. The Phone Pals’ second loss in three outings came when import JJ Sullinger left the game in the final three minutes of overtime because of cramps on both legs, but not after shooting 31 points to pace his squad.
Gary David made up for a crucial inbound blunder by nailing the game-tying three-pointer from deep right corner for the extension, 107-all.
In Air21’s previous play, with Talk ‘N Text up by just two, David called a timeout the team did not have and gave up a technical free throw to Don Allado with over 10 seconds left. Sullinger left the game at a crucial moment, the outcome very much in the balance with both teams locked in a 113 standoff. Talk ‘N Text never got going after that, though Sullinger was sent back to the fray in the final minute without success.
The left-handed Talk ‘N Text import, a high-flyer with a lot of moves to the basket, had scored 22 points in the first two periods that had the Phone Pals enjoying control.
“For now, I just hope we could sustain what we’ve started and score as many victories as possible,” said Bo Perasol, the Air21 coach who bared that a rigid training in the off-season is the reason why his Express are enjoying some success this early.
Mark Telan had 21 points, David finished with 20 while rookie Arwind Santos added 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Express.
Ginebra, meanwhile, held James Penny to the minimum and pounded out a 111-105 decision of the Barako later in the nightcap.
Rod Nealy scattered 31 points and had 16 rebounds for the Kings, and Ronald Tubid and Sunday Salvacion 20 each as Ginebra won a second consecutive outing after debuting with a loss.
Red Bull, which came off a 124-113 overtime win over Alaska on Thursday where Penny erupted for a conference-best 44 points, dropped to 3-1 and out of the lead.
“To me, James Penny and Anthony Johnson (of Coca-Cola) remain to be the yardstick of imports in the tournament,” Ginebra coach Jong Uichico said. “But I think Rod proved himself tonight.” Nealy was at his elements early as the Kings led by as many as 19 at one point and flaunt the form that could very well lead them to a second straight title series appearance this early.
“Defeating Welcoat (on Friday) provided us the momentum to defeat such a formidable team like Red Bull,” Uichico added. “Plus, I think Red Bull was not in its finest form tonight.” Nealy intercepted a pass by Celino Cruz before flicking an outlet pass to Salvacion for a 109-101 Ginebra lead that proved safe going into the final 60 seconds of the contest.
Red Bull actually crept to within six at 82-88, but Tubid and Rudy Hatfield returned to the contest after brief breathers that restored a 99-84 Ginebra lead.
The Kings started out hot with Nealy shooting 16 of his total in the first period and Salvacion 12 as Ginebra closed out the first period with a 42-29 lead. Larry Fonacier scored 23 points and was the best scorer for Red Bull.
