Express run over off-form Giants

Arwind Santos needs just a little more time to jell with his new teammates. But as team the Air21 Express looks in sharp form and ready for the upcoming Philippine Basketball Association season.

In a display of excellent teamwork, fluid running game and ferocious rebounding, the Express routed an overweight, out-of-shape Purefoods Chunkee Giants, 108-82 yesterday in the PBA pre season mini tournament at the jampacked Tinga gym in Taguig.

Gary David scored 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting and Niño Canaleta added 15 to lead the Express to its second victory in Group B while dealing the Giants their second loss in as many games.

"I’m quite impressed with the way the team is performing. But we still have to work on our defense. Last season we were ranked in the lower half when it comes to defense. If we could improve three notch higher we’ll be okay," said Air21 coach Bo Perasol, adding their showing in the tournament can’t be the gauge of their upcoming campaign.

"We beat Purefoods easily because they’re not yet in shape. By the time the season opens I’m sure they’ll be a lot better team," he said.

Keen observers who have seen the Giants of late would readily noticed their poor physical state.

With their training camp just started last Thursday, the reigning Philippine Cup champions, who are coming off a five week vacation, all looked visibly out of game shape.

James Yap, the reigning MVP, tallied 21 points and Kerby Raymundo added 11 for the Giants, who shot just 35 percent on 26-of-74 shooting.

The Giants raced to an 11-4 lead as the Express started slow. But Air21 turned the game into a mismatch from the moment the Express picked up its rhythm and got its running game going.

After scoring just two points in his first game as a pro, Santos, the No. 2 rookie pick, tallied eight points and had 10 rebounds against the Giants who fell by as many as 36 points, 90-54, early in the fourth quarter.