Purefoods and Air21 closed a trade deal involving Paul Artadi then figured in exciting match with the Giants crushing the Express, 130-124, Thursday at the PUP gym in Sta. Mesa.
Artadi has been dealt to the Barangay Ginebra Kings when the Giants repulsed the Express to gain leadership with a 2-0 win-loss record in Group B in the 2007 PBA Pre-Season Tournament.
The Express practically bombed out of contention for the championship as they reeled to a second straight defeat.
Air21 Board representative and team manager Lito Alvarez, however, is upbeat on their chances for the coming season with a lineup spiced up further by new acquisitions Ervin Sotto, Jek Chia, Paolo Hubalde and Chris Baluyot.
The team reacquired Sotto from Coca-Cola, recruited Baluyot from the free agent pool and acquired Chia and Hubalde in a three-way trade deal with Purefoods and Ginebra. Purefoods gained a future draft pick from Air21 in exchange for Artadi.
The Giants hardly missed the services of Artadi, drawing tremendous boost from new backcourt recruits Chico Lanete and Ardy Larong.
Lanete and Larong combined for 32 points although old Purefoods mainstays James Yap, Kerby Raymundo and Roger Yap delivered the biggest numbers as they whipped Air21 for a second straight win following their conquest of Barangay Ginebra in the opener last Saturday in Cavite.
The Giants opened a double-digit lead right in the first period and held off repeated rallies by the Express who banked heavily on another 30-point performance from Arwind Santos.
The Express refused to give up the fight easily but the Giants hang tough to the finish with James Yap pouring in 29 points and Raymundo adding 21.
The Giants played serious basketball with coach Ryan Gregorio even called a technical foul in the fourth quarter for continuous complaining.
The Express threatened the last time at 114-118 before Yap and Raymundo fueled a decisive run that eventually bailed Purefoods out of trouble. (NC)
The scores:
Purefoods 130 – Yap J. 29, Raymundo 21, Lanete 20, Yap R. 20, Larong 12, Sanz 8, Pingris 7, Adducul 7, Salvador 4, Evangelista 2.
Air21 124 – Santos 36, Arboleda 23, Canaleta 15, Cruz 12, De Ocampo 12, Kramer 7, Intal 6, Masbang 5, Dimaunahan 4, Sotto 2.
Quarterscores: 34-24, 68-57, 101-95, 130-124. |
