He thought of Alaska’s playoff and championship experience. He thought of Tim Cone. He thought of the Aces’ organized triangle offense.

“Going into the colizeum I was really afraid and nervous. This (Alaska) is not an easy team with 13 championships,” Ramos said. “Ang nagpalakas lang ng loob ko is the personnel I have.”

Guess who gave Ramos the surprise of his life?

Josh Urbiztondo, an undrafted sophomore, scattered 14 points in Air21’s phenomenal, franchise record-setting third quarter performance, helping the Express rally from an 18-point deficit in a shocking 97-94 Game 3 victory over the Aces, to advance into the semifinal round of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Araneta Colizeum.

Urbiztondo knocked in four triples, import Alpha Bangura had 13 points, and Dondon Hontiveros added 10 as Air21 registered 46 third-quarter points, the highest single-quarter output in two years, as the Express completed a comeback from a 44-26 deficit before holding off the Aces’ mighty uprising down the stretch.

“Josh is a great point guard,” said Ramos. “Hindi natin pwede iwanan ‘yan. He’s a streak shooter. I love this guy so much.”

“All shooters know when they’re in a rhythm,” said Urbiztondo.

“Fortunately, the ball went down for me tonight.”

Ginebra avoided a night of surprises when it held off a gritty Rain or Shine squad, banking on Mark Caguioa down the stretch to eke out a 92-82 victory.

Caguioa scattered 30 points, his highest since coming back in the 2010 Fiesta Conference from a knee injury that sidelined him for three conferences, on 13-of-22 shooting. The guy everyone knows by the moniker ‘The Spark’ had 13 points in the fourth quarter.

“He’s a competitor,” said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico of Caguioa, who also pulled down 11 rebounds for a rare double-double. “Ayaw magpatalo. Sometimes sabi nila suwapang si Mark pero he’s just so competitive he hates losing.”

Ginebra now faces guest team Smart-Gilas at the start of their semifinal series on Friday. The Nationals are likely to show up without 6-foot-11 Marcus Douthit, who hurt his shooting right hand in the team’s final game in the eliminations against Meralco.

“I’d rather not think about it,” said Uichico of Douthit’s absence.

“Even then, they have a good system and they’re young.”

Ginebra actually fell behind, 75-73, on a triple by Josh Vanlandingham.

But the Kings ripped the game apart with a 17-4 blast, seven of which coming from Caguioa, to seize the lead for good, 90-79.

Willie Miller added 15 points and Nate Brumfield had his worst output for the tournament with only 12 points. Brumfield, though, collected 13 rebounds.

Hassan Adams registered 25 points and 12 rebounds for Rain or Shine, the team with the worst record (4-5) that made the playoffs.

Except for the Express, no one practically thought that Air21 could win the best-of-three quarterfinal series after losing Game 1. But strengthened by the addition of veteran players from San Miguel, Air21 transformed into a potent unit parading a chemistry as if the cast had been operating together for quite some time.

Alaska thus suffered another stinging defeat it will have a hard time forgetting. It was the second straight time that the Aces blew a 1-0 lead in a best-of-three quarterfinals after losing to Ginebra in the season-opening Philippine Cup.

In the 2005 Fiesta Conference, Alaska also lost to Red Bull after winning the series opener.

Two days after scoring 40 in a 94-84 Game 2 win, Bangura paced the Express again with 28 points this time, while Hontiveros added 24.

Urbiztondo finished with 17 while Danny Seigle contributed 14.

LD Williams led Alaska with 26 points and 10 rebounds while LA Tenorio wound up with 19.

After wiping out that 18-point deficit and outscoring Alaska, 46-20, in the third quarter, Air21 took an 84-71 lead entering the fourth and appeared headed to a breeze when Seigle pushed the Express up at 94-80.

But Air21 went 0-of-7 from the field in a four-minute span, allowing Alaska to come to within 94-91, time down to 38.9 seconds.

Hontiveros missed a three-point shot but JR Reyes grabbed the offensive rebound and got fouled. Reyes split his free throws before Cyrus Baguio bungled a quick, ill-advised triple attempt at the left corner on the other end. Hontiveros was immediately fouled and sank both free throws.

Williams, though, hit a triple to make it a 97-94 ball game, and Bangura gave Alaska an even wider opening when he misfired on two free throws.

With 7.1 seconds to go, however, Williams crammed dribbling the ball up-court, heaving a desperation three-pointer that failed to hit its mark.