MANILA: The Air21 Express unleashed a 14-3 run in the last seven minutes of the game to upset the league-leading and previously unbeaten Alaska Aces 86-83 Friday night in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome. Ronjay Buenafe led the Express onslaught, scoring 25 points, to propel Air21 to its second straight win in the conference after two losses. Defense also played a major role in the Express' win against the Aces with the twin towers Rabeh Al-Husseini and Noynoy Baclao outclassing their Alaska counterparts. Al-Husseini scattered 15 points, including two crucial free throws in the last 16 seconds, while Baclao had a personal conference-high of six blocks, including the one on Joe Devance's three-point shot attempt that could have sent the game into overtime in the last second of play. Cyrus Baguio led Alaska with 26 points as the Aces fell to a 3-1 win-loss record in a tie with the Talk N Text Tropang Texters. In the first game of the double-header, the Barangay Ginebra Kings came from behind to rout the Barako Bull Energy Boosters, 93-74, to notch their second win in four games. Mark Caguioa scored a game-high 18 points, while former two-time Most Valuable Player Willie Miller chipped in with 15. Rudy Hatfield exploded for 13 points and 22 boards, a conference high and one shy from his career best. Mike Cortez added 11 points. Trailing by 12 points, 29-17, with 9:43 left in the second quarter, the Kings fought back, repulsed the Boosters' attack in the third period, and triggered another huge scoring run in the final quarter to finally zap the Boosters. The Boosters fell to 1-3 to share the bottom of the standings with the Meralco Bolts and the B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados. Rob Wainwright scored a three-pointer at the 2:57 mark of the third to threaten the Kings for the last time, 60-59. Ginebra answered with a huge 26-6 run to finally demolish the Boosters, who were held to just 11 points in the fourth quarter. Aries Dimaunahan led the Barako Bull with 14 points, while Mark Isip scored a double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds.
