Cola Tigers mangled the Sta. Lucia Realtors, 89-80, Wednesday night to keep their hopes alive for an outright semifinals berth in the 2008 PBA Fiesta Conference. Coke can clinch a tie for a semifinals seat together with Magnolia if Alaska loses its last two games – against Talk N Text and Barangay Ginebra. Import Donald Copeland led all scorers with his 32 points to power the Tigers to victory in their last elimination round game – their 10th win in 18 games. However, it was a farewell game for the 5-foot-nine Copeland who has to fly back to the United States to attend to settle a personal legal problem. Jason Dixon, Coke's other import, also contributed immensely, scoring 15 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. The loss dropped the Sta. Lucia Realtors to the wildcard phase of the conference after suffering their 10th loss in 17 games. Lee Benson endured a slight strained calf and led the Realtors with 18 points and 18 rebounds. But he had a turnover and a missed shot that hastened the Realtors' downfall in the homestretch. In the first game, the league-leading Air21 Express ran over the Purefoods TJ Giants, 113-103, to score win No. 12 in their last game. It was actually a no-bearing game for Air21 since it has already been assured of an automatic semifinals berth even before the match. But the fired-up Express refused to cool down, coming back from a 14-point deficit to overcome the Giants who tumbled to their 10th loss in the conference, relegating themselves to the knockout wildcard phase of the conference in the company of Sta. Lucia. Instead, the Giants were relegated to the knockout wildcard phase where the No. 6 team meets No. 9 and Nos. 7 and 8 square off. Gary David led Air21 with a personal season-high 30 points, 20 coming in the second half as Air21 charged back from a 29-43 second quarter deficit. The Giants could only score 19 points in the fourth quarter while giving up 35. James Yap led Purefoods with 24 points, but he scored only one point in the third quarter, when the Express continuously chipped away at the Giants' 59-49 halftime lead to tie it at 74, before ceding a 78-84 deficit going into the fourth. Steven Thomas had an off-night offensively with just 13 points, but he did have a game-high 17 rebounds to go with six shotblocks and five assists. First Game Air21 113 – David 30, Arboleda 20, De Ocampo 15, Thomas 13, Santos 13, Canaleta 10, Intal 4, Se 4, Kraner 2, Cruz 2, Espinas 0, Billones 0. Purefoods 103 – Yap J. 24, Raymundo 20, Lanete 16, Simon 16, Rhalimi 14, Villanueva 6, Yap R. 5, Salvador 2, Yee 0. Quarters: 22-27, 49-59, 78-84, 113-103. Second Game Coca-Cola 89 – Copeland 32, Cabagnot 17, Dixon 15, Macapagal 11, Buenafe 5, Catli 4, Taulava 3, Belasco 2. Sta. Lucia 80 – Benson 18, Williams 15, Omolon 12, Espino 11, Miranda 10, Yeo 7, Aquino 4, Reyes 3, Mendoza 0. Quarters: 19-19, 43-39, 61-59, 89-80. __
