Fully aware that their playoff hopes are hanging by a thread, Niño Canaleta dished out a spectacular game to lead the Air21 Express to a 113-92 win over the eliminated Globalport Batang Pier last night in the 38th PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
The high-flying Canaleta erupted for a career-high 41 points as the Express stayed in contention for a quarterfinals slot by finishing the elimination round with five wins and nine losses.
Air21 could book a playoff ticket if Barako Bull Energy Cola loses in its last elimination round game tomorrow against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
A win by Barako Bull (4-9) will lead to a playoff match against them and Air21 for the last quarterfinal ticket.
Tournament format states that the ninth and tenth placed teams after the eliminations will be ousted while the top eight teams advance to the quarterfinals.
The top two teams will have twice-to-beat edges against the seventh and eighth-ranked squads.
The number three to six teams after the eliminations will face each other in best-of-three playoffs for the right to advance to the best-of-five semifinals.
“Kailangang kailangan namin itong game na ito kaya todo na. Wala nang bukas,” said Canaleta, who went six-for-nine from the three-point area.
Canaleta capped his brilliant performance with back-to-back plays in the closing seconds. He first converted a rare-four point play then completed a one-handed dunk off a pass from Mike Cortez, putting the Express safely ahead, 111-87, with 42 seconds left.
Canaleta unloaded 21 of his total output in the first two quarters of play, allowing the Express to sit on a 60-55 lead at the half.
James Sena and Rob Reyes backed Canaleta with 18 and 12 markers, respectively in handing Globalport its ninth straight defeat to drop to 1-12.
Rabeh Al-Hussaini topped Batang Pier with 20 points, Gary David added 16, while Vic Manuel and Jondan Salvador had 11 each.
BOX SCORES
AIR21 (113)- Canaleta 41, Sena 18, Reyes 12, Arboleda 8, Omolon 7, Wilson 6, Cortez 5, Ritualo 5, Custodio 4, Isip 4, Andaya 2, Baclao 1, Atkins 0.
GLOBALPORT (92)- Al-Hussaini 20, David 16, Manuel 11, Salvador 11, Mandani 8, Guevarra 5, Antonio 5, Yee 4, Miller 4, Lingganay 3, Vanlandingham 3, Vergara 2, Deutchman 0, Cruz 0, Crisano 0. QUARTERSCORES: 30-31, 60-55, 87-67, 113-92.