Alaska forces KO game for semis slot, edges TNT

Alaska Milk beat out Tropang TNT in a gripping endgame duel, squeezing out an 85-81 win to force a do-or-die match in their Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-three quarterfinals showdown at Smart Araneta Coliseum Tuesday night.

It boiled down to a defensive battle, and the Aces escaped with the win in holding the Texters down to only two points in the last 3:30 minutes of play.

On the offensive end, Rob Dozier and RJ Jazul nailed three key free throws in the last 9.5 seconds as Alaska stalled TNT’s drive and set the rubber match Friday also at the Big Dome.

“TNT only had 81 points, right? I’m so happy the way we defended,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton.

The Texters actually had a chance to steal the game but Troy Rosario missed a potential game-winning three-pointer in the last three seconds.

“My heart dropped Basement 5 of the Araneta parking area when Troy was left open. It scared the life out of me,” said Compton.

Compton and the Alaska bench got a giant relief as Rosario, who sparkled with seven triples in Game 1, missed the target, his shot from the right flank going way off.

“It was a defensive battle. I certainly hope to keep them to only 81 points on Friday. Pero mukhang mahirap. We have to give them a different defensive look,” said Compton.

The Aces blew away double-digit spreads in the first quarter and in the third period, and needed an 8-2 closing run to stay alive in the fight for the right to play the Meralco Bolts in the best-of-five semis.

Alaska squandered an early double-digit margin but regrouped and reestablished a big lead at the start of the third period.
From 10-point down at 10-20, the Texters leaned largely on the efforts of David Simon and Ranidel De Ocampo as they raced ahead at 37-35 before trailing, 38-40, at the half.
But the Texters went silent in the first four minutes of the final half, allowing the Aces to regain command at 51-38.

TNT waged another chase and the two teams battled to the finish.

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