Meralco Bolts escape Air21 Express, 89-88

The Air21 Express came back from double-digit deficits, wrested the lead in the endgame but couldn’t hang on as they yielded a sorry, 88-89 loss to the Meralco Bolts last night in the 38th PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

It was yet another heart-breaking defeat for Air21, now loser of five straight games. The Express, who dropped to 1-5 (win-loss), lost those five games by an average margin of just three points.

Air21 trailed for the large part of the game but Michael Dunigan went berserk in the fourth quarter and willed his team back into the game.

Dunigan unloaded eight straight points in a searing run that saw the Express taking the lead, 88-85, in the final 2:01. Meralco had four turnovers in that stretch, string of errors that nearly did them in.

However, just when they appeared ready to wrap up a big comeback victory, the Express lost steam after taking that three-point lead as they never scored from that point on. And Dunigan was partly to blame in the Express’ downfall after he committed a crucial error in the closing seconds.

Air21 was clinging to a one-point lead inside the final 20 seconds and victory seemed within reach when Meralco import Eric Dawson missed a layup.

Air21 recovered the ball and all they needed to do was to hold on to the leather and wait for Meralco to foul.

Dunigan, however, uncharacteristically threw a dangerous long pass to Mike Cortez, a pass that was intercepted by Chris Ross who was subsequently fouled in the play. He nailed the two gift shots then forced Cortez to lose the ball after inbound play, sealing the Bolts’ hairline victory.

Ross was adjudged the game’s best player as he finished with 11 assists, six points and five rebounds.

Dawson tallied 35 points, Sunday Salvacion contributed 18, while Mark Cardona had 11 for the Bolts, who improved to 3-3.

Dunigan erupted for 40 markers, 29 coming in the final half.

BOX SCORES

MERALCO (89)- Dawson 35, Salvacion 18, Cardona 11, Hugnatan 8, Ross 6, Hodge 4, Buenafe 3, Manuel 2, Reyes 2, Artadi 0.

AIR21 (88)- Dunigan 40, Isip 13, Canaleta 7, Custodio 6, Omolon 6, Ritualo 5, Cortez 4, Arboleda 3, Sena 2, Menor 2, Atkins 0, Wilson 0, Baclao 0. QUARTERSCORES: 26-19, 49-35, 74-64, 89-88.