Newly traded Cortez helps Air21 chalk up second straight win in PBA Philippine Cup

Game today:

Hoops Dome, Lapu-Lapu City

6:30 p.m.- Alaska vs. San Mig Coffee

Mike Cortez made a sudden impact with his new squad, powering the Air21 Express to a tight 86-85 win over Barako Bull Energy Cola last night in the 38th PBA Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Spending more time on the bench than on the court with his former team Barangay Ginebra, Cortez displayed the form that made him the number one overall pick in the 2003 Rookie Draft as he piled up 24 points, six rebounds, six assists and five steals in a brilliant debut with the Express.

Ginebra also came up big in its first game without Cortez, escaping Globalport, 81-79, behind Mark Caguioa’s 19 points.

Ginebra improved to 3-5 (win-loss) and saw its five-game losing streak arrested.

The Express, who also improved to 3-5, acquired Cortez in a trade with Ginebra in exchange for 6-foot-7 rookie Yusef Taha.

While with Ginebra, Cortez saw his playing time dwindle what with the heavy-guard roster of the Kings.

The shifty guard showed what the Kings had been missing as he delivered the needed points to help the Express nail a second straight win.

Barako Bull coasted to a 67-59 lead in the third but Cortez went to work and scored eight straight points, allowing the Express to tie the count at 67-all, going into the fourth.

The Energy Cola looked good in the final 1:40 when they went ahead, 85-81, but Cortez nailed a three-pointer that made it a one-point game with 1:29 left.

Barako Bull turned the ball over in the next play and Cortez made them pay when he canned a tough fallaway jumper over the taller Sean Anthony as the Express grabbed an 86-85 lead with 58.1 seconds left.

Barako Bull shot itself in the foot when it wasted a lot of time in setting up at least three crucial offensive possessions.

Worse, the Energy Cola was slapped with a 24-second shotclock violation with 2.5 seconds left.

Ronald Tubid fired 24 points to lead Barako Bull, which slid to 3-6.

LAPU-LAPU

GAME TODAY

Meanwhile, the PBA holds an aout-of-town game today at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City featuring the Alaska Aces and the San Mig Coffee Mixers.

The Aces will be headed by Cebuano hotshot Dondon Hontiveros and highly touted rookie Calvin Abueva.

The Coffee Mixers, on the other hand, will be led by James Yap, Marc Pingris and Joe Devance.

BOX SCORES:

AIR21 (86)- Cortez 24, Sena 12, Isip 12, Wilson 11, Canaleta 11, Custodio 10, Arboleda 4, Baclao 2, Escobal 0, Reyes 0, Omolon 0, Ritualo 0.

BARAKO (85 – Tubid 24, Pennisi 15, Urbiztondo 14, Anthony 13, Villanueva 13, Najorda 3, Marcelo 2, Kramer 1, Alvarez 0, Yap 0.

QUARTERSCORES: 18-19, 38-44, 67-67, 86-85.