MANILA, 17 May 2008 — With his Afro trimmed to a Mohawk-style hairdo, KG Canaleta certainly could pass for an import.
Just ask Tony Lang, Red Bull’s former Best Import who was at courtside last night to see one of the most spectacular fourth quarters by any Filipino in the Fiesta Cup eliminations.
Caneleta scored 19 points in the fourth quarter and anchored a fiery Air21 finish that resulted in a 104-86 victory by the Express over Coca-Cola that had even the former Duke Blue Devil in the NCAA bedeviled for what he saw.
“That guy looked very athletic, but I didn’t think he could shoot the ball the way he did,” said Lang, who planed in Thursday night to see the games and do some scouting for imports for the Japanese League where he is now an assistant coach.
“But he is a Filipino, right? he asked. “The way he played, he was like the import out there.”
Canaleta hit four of his five triples in the breakaway fourth quarter, leading the Express to their fifth win in nine games while dealing the rock-solid Tigers their first back-to-back defeats in the tournament for a 6-4 card.
“I’ve been waiting for a game where KG will have his breakout (in the conference),” said Air21 coach Bo Perasol. “I think this is the game, not only offensively but defensively as well.
“His talent showed tonight,” added Perasol of the 6-foot-6 Canaleta, whose finest offensive game in the tournament prior to last night was just 16 points. “He could be one of the premier players in this league.”
The Express broke free from a 73-71 game early in the fourth period with a 14-2 run, where Canaleta scored seven of the final five points, including his third triple of the quarter which gave the Express an 87-73 lead.
It was all Air21 from there as Canaleta stopped each and every Coca-Cola comeback with a key basket, none bigger than another three from left quarter court with made it 96-81 heading into the final five minutes.
“This was a big game for us,” Canaleta, a native of Tarlac who looks very much like an import because of his African-American roots, told reporters in Filipino. “We really prepared hard for this. It was still a team effort.”
Canaleta’s 19 fourth quarter points were the most by any local in the tournament. And that mark tied the most by any player after Jason Dixon of Coca-Cola first did the trick last April 9 against Welcoat.
Ranidel de Ocampo scored 21 points and had six rebounds, while the comebacking Gary David was the fourth player in twin digits for Perasol with 10.
Jason Dixon led the Tigers with 15 and 10 boards and Buenafe went on to finish with 14 despite failing to hit a triple in six tries. Second import George Gervin Jr. was held to just 10 points and six assists.
Meanwhile, action goes to the Xavier University Gym in Cagayan de Oro today with Talk ‘N Text and Sta. Lucia clashing at 4:30 p.m.
Both teams will be seeking to win second straight games, with the Phone Pals having a shot at creeping closer to the league-leading Red Bull Barako. The Realtors, on the other hand, are at 5-3.
In the second game, Danny Seigle returned to active duty by tossing in 27 points as Magnolia kept in step with Express after an 88-81 decision of Purefoods.
But it was not an impressive victory as far as Magnolia coach Siot Tanquingcen was concerned, most especially after his Beverage Masters almost lost a 24-point first half lead and were even dragged into an eng-game battle.
“We need every win, considering how bunched up the standings are,” said Tanquingcen. “It was like we were playing with fire out there and that’s not a good sign. But a win is a win.”
Import Jameel Watkins contributed with 15 markers and five blocks. Lordy Tugade and Dondon Hontiveros chipped in with 11 apiece for the Beverage Masters, who dealt the Tender Juicy Giants their first loss with Reda Rhalimi in the lineup. Rhalimi, the 7-footer from Morocco, finished with 17 points, 11 of them in the third period when the Giants made a run at Magnolia to come within six.
But Purefoods was clearly out of steam by then to drop to 3-5.
