The San Miguel Beermen continued its mastery of the Air21 Express, arranging a much anticipated Quarterfinals duel with the Brgy. Ginebra Kings with a 105-86 win in the 2008-2009 KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

Lordy Tugade and Dondon Hontiveros topscored for the Beermen with 18 points apiece while Bonbon Custodio and Danny Seigle had 16 points each to lead the Beermen. Dorian Pena added 12.

"Great players make great plays. Yung mga players ko ang nagpadali ng panalo namin," said San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen on their conquest of the Express.

"I know we're not expected to be here (wildcard round). But there's reason for everything and I think God has reason in bringing us here. Going into the quarters, we'll be a better team after going through the wildcard. We'll be more confident," said Tanquingcen.

"Ginebra's a tough team whether Mark (Caguioa) is there or not. But I'm not taking anything away from my team. We're coming out and making the best we can," Tanquingcen added.

Gary David led the Express with a game-high 31 points. Arwind Santos added 20 points and 11 rebounds and Don Allado contributed 12 points and 14 boards.

Scores:

San Miguel 105 - Tugade 18, Hontiveros 18, Custodio 16, Seigle 16, Pena 12, Washington 9, Racela 5, Pingris 4, Pennisi 4, Calaguio 3, Baguion 0.

Air21 86 - David 31, Santos 20, Allado 12, Arboleda 7, Baguio 5, Quinahan 4, Cruz 3, Kramer 2, Billones 2, Intal 0, Canaleta 0, Cruz 0.

Quarterscores: 25-23, 48-41, 75-64, 105-86

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Gary David scored 20 points and Wynne Arboleda had 17 and 6 assists as the Air21 Express makes Cyrus Baguio's Air21 debut a sweet one with a 94-82 win over the frustrated Purefoods TJ Giants in the 2008-2009 KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

“When I was watching the two contenders, nakita ko ‘yung firepower ng San Miguel,” Air21 mentor Bo Perasol said. “Magkakaroon kami ng mismatch sa bigs nila, but sa wings makaka-matchup kami very well.”

“Pero it’s the same, if we can have the same intensity on defense, magkakaroon kami ng kumpiyansa sa opensa naming,” he added.

Arwind Santos who had 13 points and 11 rebounds, played great defense on Purefoods' Kerby Raymundo all night, not giving him any rhythm at all. Marvin Cruz had 11 points for Air21. Baguio struggled in this game, making only 6 points with 5 turnovers in 20 minutes.

The win sets up a January 4 meeting against the San Miguel Beermen, who won earlier in the evening against the Cca-Cola Tigers. The Express have lost both games against the Beermen so far this season.

An altercation between Purefoods’ James Yap and assistant coach Koy Banal occurred with seven minutes left in the fourth with Air21 up, 80-62, allegedly on defensive lapses by the Giants.

James Yap led the Giants with 26 points. Enrico Villanueva notched his conference-leading 11th double-double with 17 points and 11 rebonds. Raymundo finished with 14 points.

Scores:

Air21 94 - David 20, Arboleda 17, Santos 13, Cruz 11, Allado 8, Baguio 6, Intal 5, Quinahan 4, Kramer 4, Canaleta 4, Billones 2, Sta. Maria 0.

Purefoods 82 - J. Yap 26, Villanueva 17, Raymundo 14, Lanete 9, Alvarez 6, Simon 5, Aban 3, Belga 2, Robinson 0, R. Yap 0.

Quarterscores: 19-14, 48-37, 72-58, 94-82.

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Old reliables Dondon Hontiveros, who finished with 24 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists, and Olsen Racela knocked down consecutive jumpers each just when the Coca-Cola Tigers trimmed 1 46-67 21-point deficit to just 7, 71-78, lifting the San Miguel Beermen to a 99-89 win at the start of the Wildcard Phase of the 2008-2009 KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

The win set the Beermen to another knocj=kout match against the winner of the second game between the Purefoods TJ Giants and the Air21 Express.

“This is somehow the path God allowed us to be in,” said SMB coach Siot Tanquingcen, whose powerhouse team was a pre-tournament favorite but wound up in the wildcard after finishing the eliminations at sixth.

“We just have to make sure we do our best, put in all our efforts dahil ang results darating yun,” he added. “We just have to play with the talent we have and let the chips fall as they may.”

“Against Purefoods you have to deal with James (Yap), Kerby (Raymundo), Rico (Villanueva). Sa Air21 naman, you have to deal with everybody, including ‘yung dalawang bago nila (Cyrus Baguio and Celino Cruz),” he pointed out.

Danny Seigle, in his second game back after a long layoff due to various injuries, contributed 16 points and 7 rebounds in just 21 minutes. Lordy Tgade added 15 and 5 and Dorian Pena 14 and 8 for the Beermen.

The next playdate will be on January 4, 2009. The wildcard winner will face the 3rd-ranked Brgy. Ginebra Kings.

Asi Taulava, who has missed the Tigers' previous three games, played despite having a fractured finger and led Coca-Cola with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Ronjay Buenafe added 15 and 6, Mark Telan 12 and 13 and Ricky Calimag 11 and 6.

The Tigers became the second casualty of the tournament.

Scores:

San Miguel Beer 99 - Hontiveros 24, Seigle 16, Tugade 15, Pena 14, Custodio 9, Washington 9, Pennisi 6, Racela 5, Villanueva 1, Baguion 0.

Coca-Cola 89 - Taulava 20, Buenafe 15, Telan 12, Calimag 11, Cabagnot 9, Macapagal 8, Sanots 8, Catli 3, Arigo 3, Dimaunahan 0, Misolas 0.

Quarterscores: 32-22, 52-38, 75-62, 99-89.

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After weeks of speculation, the Cyrus Baguio trade is now official. Baguio, who was rumored to be going to the Brgy. Ginebra Kings, was officially shipped by Red Bull, along with tough guard Celino Cruz to the Air21 Express in exchange for Air21's first round picks in 2011 and 2012.

Air21 team manager Lito Alvaez confirmed the reports after his team lost to the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters last night.

It’s really great to add players like Cyrus (Baguio) and Celino (Cruz) who can help us in our campaign not only here in this conference but also for our future,” said Alvarez. “We traded Ranidel for Don Allado then we got Cyrus. I’m sure we are in a right direction.”

At the end of the eliminations, here are the averages of the two players.

Cyrus Baguio: 18 games, 30.0788OPE (18th in the league), 13.44ppg, 3.67rpg and 3.11apg. He is shooting 44.5% from the field and 77.6% from the line.

Celino Cruz: 17 games, 20.6116OPE, 6.94ppg, 3.65rpg, 2.59apg, 34.9% 3PT

The move toughened Air21's backcourt and increased their chances of getting past the wildcard phase. They will play Purefoods on Sunday.

Baguio is expected to join in Air21’s practice today at the Xavier Gym and set to play for Sunday. Cruz, on the other hand, will skip the practice and set to join the next day of scrimmages due to family reason, according to Alvarez.

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