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By Waylon Galvez
Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao wasn’t expecting too much from import Adam Parada, but the 7-footer from Mexico came through with an impressive debut last night.
Parada scored 28 points and grabbed 21 rebounds as the Bulls downed the Gin Kings of Barangay Ginebra, 89-83, in the season-ending Smart-PBA Fiesta Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
The former stalwart from University of California-Irvine completed a three-point play off a foul by Ginebra reinforcement Rashon Turner that gave Red Bull an 85-81 advantage with 1:44 remaining in the game.
"We did not expect to get such a good game from Adam," Guiao said. "He’s an effective big man, he makes good decision. He works hard inside. Rebounding has been our weakest stat."
Cyrus Baguio also had a big game with 23 points, including a crucial fade away jumper for an 87-83 lead with 1:17 left. Mike Hrabak added 11 points.
Mark Caguioa had a game-high 33 points to lead Ginebra.
Guiao decided not to play veteran guard Junthy Valenzuela, who is reportedly on the trading block with Ginebra’s Sunday Salvacion. Salvacion also did not play though he was at the Kings’ bench.
"I chose not to play him. Maski ako naguguuhan pa, I don’t want to put him in a situation na maaalangan s’ya. We don’t want him to go. But there are factors that need to be considered," Guiao added.
Air21 defeated Welcoat Paints, 105-96, last night in the other game.
Ranidel De Ocampo led a balanced Air21 attack with 25 points while import Steven Thomas came through with a double-double effort of 23 points and 15 rebounds with a shot block.
But it was defense that did it for Air21 as the Express denied Welcoat’s two imports – 6-foot-10 Jason Keep and 6-foot-0 Corey Santee – from taking control of the game.
Veteran guard Wynee Arboleda and Arwind Santos took turns in defending against Santee, a former Texas Christian University playmaker who shot 7-of-15 from the field for 19 points with five turnovers.
Keep, a white import from Oklahoma State, also shot poorly, making just five of 13 attempts for 12 points.
Although he had 14 boards, Keep was outplayed by Thomas and Air21’s local big men like De Ocampo and Santos who blocked Keep’s shot in the first quarter.
"I don’t know if our commitment to defend has a great effect although we’re averaging 106 points in the previous conference (Philippine Cup)," Air 21 coach Bo Perasol said. "The 96 points (by Welcoat) was a big improvement already."
The Express also got solid numbers from Santos with 24 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals, while Rommel Canaleta contributed 14.
Air21 played without three bigmen -- Gabby Espinas, Homer Se and Ervin Sotto -- who are nursing injuries. JC Intal also did not play due to skin allergy, while Gary David, who had knee surgery last conference, played sparingly.
The match was actually close in the first quarter and even in the early part of the second period.
Ahead, 31-30 lead, the Express dropped a 16-0 bomb starring De Ocampo, Santos and Cañaleta to give them a 47-30 advantage with four minutes in the second period.
Halftime ended at 52-34.
A jumper by Thomas gave the Express their biggest lead at 54-34 early in the third quarter.
The Dragons cut the deficit to six points, 59-65, when Rob Wainwright, who scored a team-high 24 points, nailed a three-pointer that capped a 25-11 run with 2:49 left in the third quarter.
In the final frame, Thomas, a 6-8 power forward who played college ball for Middle Tennessee State until the 2005 season, took over as he scattered 10 points that kept the Dragons at bay.
Air21 joined Coca-Cola in the win column after the Tigers defeated Talk ’N Text Saturday in Panabo City, 85-76.
The Express shot 43-of-85 or 50.6 percent from the field while holding Welcoat to 37-of-86 or 43 percent.
The loss was the Dragons’ 12th straight dating back to the Philippine Cup.
The last time Welcoat tasted a win was Nov. 16, 2007 when it defeated Magnolia Beverage, 95-93.
Welcoat, together with Coke, earned the concession of parading two imports this conference after finishing at the bottom in the Philippine Cup.
Meanwhile, the PBA Commissioner’s Office will hold a healing mass for Rommel Adducul, the cancer-stricken player of Purefoods TJ Hotdogs, 5 p.m. tomorrow at the Christ the King Church in Green Meadows.
According to PBA Executive Director Rickie Santos, the gathering is just one way to show support for the 31-year-old Adducul, who was recently diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer.
The 6-foot-6 center, a native of Tuguegarao, Cagayan, is currently undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
The scores:
First Game
Air 21 105 — De Ocampo 25, Santos 24, Thomas 23, Canaleta 14, Cruz 7, Arboleda 5, Kramer 4, David 3.
Welcoat 96 — Wainwright 24, Santee 19, Mente 13, Keep 12, Tangkay 8, De Vance 6, Reyes 6, Ibanes 5, Isip 3, Arana 0, Baguion 0.
Quarters: 29-24, 52-34, 74-65, 105-96.
Welcoat 29 23 22 31 — 105.
Air21 24 10 31 31 — 96.
Second Game
RED BULL 89 — Parada 28, Baguio 23, Hrabak 11, Najorda 7, Robinson 6, Alvarez 4, Cruz 4, Adriano 4, Sharma 2, Ybanez 0, Pennisi 0.
BARANGAY GINEBRA 83 — Caguioa 33, Turner 12, Reavis 11, Helterbrand 9, Pablo 6, Tubid 4, Menk 4, Pacana 2, Artadi 2, Wilson 0.
Quarters: 27-25, 41-47, 63-69, 89-83.
Red Bull 27 14 22 26 — 89.
Ginebra 25 22 22 14 — 83.
Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/SPRT20080331120640.html
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