Dunigan brushes aside physicality, leads Express past Aces
Michael Dunigan bore the full brunt of Alaska’s stymieing defense early on but the Air21 import still had the last laugh Friday night.
The 6-foot-10 Dunigan came through with clutch baskets and a pair of defensive gems in the crunch to help the Express served a 74-68 stunner over the pace-setting Aces in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.
ALSO READ: Was this the worst PBA brawl?
Proving he’s a consistent force, Dunigan finished with a game-high 25 points, 14 rebounds and five big blocks–two coming in the crunch–as Air21 gained its first back-to-back wins in the mid-season tourney while improving its record to 3-5.
No other Express local reached the double-figure mark in points but Nelbert Omolon, Mike Cortez and Wynne Arboleda did just enough in backstopping the intimidating presence of Dunigan, who dominated with 35 points and 20 rebounds in Air21’s 106-94 win over fading GlobalPort last Sunday.
“It’s a first back-to-back win for us. We really came here prepared for what we gonna do. My coaching staff did a good job. It was a great game. I guess we played good defense. We held them down right from the start,” noted Air21 coach Franz Pumaren.
Import Robert Dozier battled foul woes with 17 points and 12 rebounds but the Aces, who sorely missed the steady playmaking of ace guard JVee Casio due to a knee injury, came up short and, in the process, dropped their second game in eight starts.
Although getting into several heated confrontations with Dozier, Gabby Espinas and Nic Belasco in the early goings, Dunigan stayed composed and–as expected–dominant, helping the Express enjoy their biggest lead at 48-34 in the third canto.
Tightening its defensive screws, Alaska clawed its way back, pulling within 51-54 at the end of the third canto and forging a 63-all count off a Cyrus Baguio triple with less than six minutes to play.
Dunigan and the Express, however, wouldn’t be denied. The Chicago, Illinois native clustered four straight points–capped by a jump hook over the 6-foot-9 Dozier–for a four-point cushion before swatting Sonny Thoss’ attempt on the other end.
After Cortez made it a five-point game off a split, RJ Jazul knocked in a triple but Omolon countered with a back-breaking, shot-clock beating trey for a 71-66 lead with 1:36 to go.
In the ensuing play, Dunigan blocked a point-blank shot by Dozier, sending the leather straight to the side of the raucous Aces fans at the baseline.
As Alaska sputtered offensively in the absence of Casio, Cortez and Arboleda iced the game with three more free throws.
“It’s a physical league but I’ve already got used to it. The (Alaska) locals tried to get into my head early on but I just keep on playing,” offered Dunigan in the post-game interview.
ALSO READ: The NBA says Kobe Bryant was fouled on the play that injured his ankle
Earlier, San Mig Coffee leaned on another clutch performance from import Denzel Bowles to turn back gritty Meralco, 76-71.
The 6-foot-9 Bowles, the reigning Best Import, drilled 10 of his game-high 23 points in the payoff period, highlighted by a tough jumper over defender Jay-R Reyes that gave the Mixers a needed 75-71 cushion and eventually their fourth win in eight starts.
Former two-time MVP James Yap added 19 markers while defensive anchor Marc Pingris finished with seven points and 16 huge rebounds while making life miserable for the Bolts’ stars throughout.
Scrappy playmaker Chris Ross produced his first career triple-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists while import Eric Dawson added 20 points, 13 rebounds and four steals but the Bolts still saw their three-game winning run come to a halt.
“It was just a great battle out there,” pointed out San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone. “Every time we came close, we came up with a silly offensive or defensive play and (Meralco would) pull away again. It was very, very frustrating. The thing I like with our team even though we struggle, we do a good job on defense.”
That was especially true in the fourth canto, as the Mixers held the Bolts to just 5-of-22 shooting from the field.
Meralco’s top guns Mac Cardona and Ronjay Buenafe failed to make their presence felt, combining for just two points on horrendous 1-of-13 shooting.
The loss also extended the Bolts’ misery at the Rizal Province venue to seven games since joining the league in 2010.
The Mixers, however, have to deal with the abrupt loss of forward Joe Devance due to a suspected MCL injury which he suffered as he tried to hold his ground against Bolts rookie Cliff Hodge in transition.
Reserve guard Alex Mallari also had to sit out midway in the fourth canto after spraining his right ankle in a rebound battle against Hodge.
“I hope it’s an MCL, not ACL. We don’t know until we got to the MRI tomorrow (Saturday). But if it’s MCL, thank the Lord. Alex had a sprain,” disclosed Cone.
First Game
San Mig (76) – Bowles 23, Yap 19, Simon 9, Pingris 7, Mallari 6, Devance 6, Barroca 2, Najorda 2, Reavis 2, De Ocampo 0.
Meralco (71) – Dawson 20, Hodge 14, Ross 10, Hugnatan 8, Artadi 6, Salvacion 6, Reyes 5, Buenafe 2, Manuel 0, Guevarra 0, Cardona 0.
Quarterscores: 15-25, 34-38, 56-58, 76-71
Second Game
Air21 (74) – Dunigan 25, Wilson 9, Canaleta 8, Cortez 8, Omolon 6, Menor 4, Custodio 4, Isip 4, Ritualo 3, Arboleda 3, Baclao 0.
Alaska 68 – Dozier 17, Abueva 9, Espinas 9, Hontiveros 9, Reyes 6, Jazul 6, Baguio 5, Thoss 4, Dela Cruz 3, Ramos 0, Eman 0.
Quarterscores: 14-15; 40-32; 54-51; 74-68
SLIDESHOW: COACHES SHOW THEIR EMOTIONS
