RABEH Al-Hussaini is steadily putting to rest any doubt on his ability to be an impact player in
the PBA.
The Air21 center racked up his second straight 30-point game last Sunday, powering the Express into
a much-needed win that formally pushed them into the quarterfinals of the 2010-11 PBA Philippine
Cup.
“Rabeh played his best game so far. It’s just a glimpse of his real potential," said Air21
coach Yeng Guiao of the Accel-PBA Press Corps' Player of the Week for the period Nov. 29 to Dec. 5.
"He showed that if he’s serious about his purpose he can get better,” added the wizened
tactician.
Guiao made his comments after Al-Hussaini scored 30 points in an 82-77 win over Barako Bull at the
Araneta Coliseum. He laced that performance up with all of Air21's last 10 points, lifting it out of
a 70-71 bind in the final 5:35.
In all, the 22-year-old former UAAP season and Finals MVP shot 13-of-27 from the field, collared
five rebounds and also had two assists and a block.
The production came on the heels of the 6-foot-7 Fil-Kuwaiti's career-best 31 points in an 89-96
loss to conference leader San Miguel Beer the week before and he could have easily eclipsed that if
not for some missed free throws and a couple of flubbed point-blank attempts in the stretch against
the Energy Boosters.
No matter as his virtual one-man show led to as much as an 80-71 lead by the Express, which proved
safe enough going into the last 1:21.
The victory improved Air21's win-loss record to 5-7, ensconcing it firmly at eighth place. The
Express could go higher and avoid a twice-to-win handicap against a top two team in the ensuing
round if they win their last two eliminations assignments against Rain or Shine Wednesday and Talk N
Text Sunday.
As of now, SMB looms as the most probable quarters opponent for Air21, but Guiao is unfazed. "Kung
ma-a-avoid namin ang San Miguel better. But if not, we’ll give them a good fight," he stated.
Especially with Al-Hussaini, who has jacked his averages to 17.6 points and 8.8 rebounds per game,
around.
