VINTAGE HONTIVEROS CARRIES ALASKA BACK TO SOLO NO. 1
Dondon Hontiveros played his best game in an Alaska Milk uniform and propelled the Aces to their biggest victory in a long while versus the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Hontiveros caught fire in the crunch, banging in six huge treys in the fourth period and in overtime as Alaska survived a 22-point deficit, turning back Rain or Shine, 89-84, to regain solo lead heading into the homestretch of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup elimination round.
“Bigla kong nakuha yong rhythm ko, dinerecho ko na,” said Hontiveros, keying the Aces’ amazing turnaround from 32-65 down.
The Aces overcame that deficit and an awful 25.4-percent clip in the first half, moving within reach of a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals with a 9-3 win-loss card.
“I thought it was a lost game. We’re just trying to make the game close. We just wanted to end the game on a positive note, then we found our way back,” said coach Luigi Trillo after his chargers carved out the biggest comeback win by any team in the season.
Rain or Shine bungled what had really looked like a won game but remained in strong contention for a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarters with an 8-4 slate at second.
The E-Painters are a game and a half ahead of joint third placers the Petron Blaze Boosters, the Ginebra Kings and the Meralco Bolts at 6-5.
The Aces are two full games in front of the third placers with only two games left versus the Kings and the Globalport Batang Pier.
“This one is really big for us. Top Two is not yet a sure thing actually but we have superior quotient versus Rain or Shine, Petron and Meralco,” said Trillo.
“I’m just proud how the guys came out. Our first half was awful and the guys were already deflated at the half. I just told them to stay positive. Second half, nabaligtad lahat. May konting tsaga and they (the E-Painters) missed open looks,” Trillo also said.
Rob Dozier also helped before fouling out with 3:20 left in overtime.
Jeff Chan drew Dozier’s final foul on a short jumper making it 84-81 for the E-Painters.
But the Aces answered with a six-to-nothing tear by Gabby Espinas and Hontiveros, and went on to pull off easily one of the most incredible wins in the tourney thus far.
Hontiveros went 7-of-10 from beyond the arc throughout and finished with 22 points and seven rebounds.
After blowing away their 22-point spread, the E-Painters still had a chance to salvage the game in regulations but Chan missed an open three-point attempt at the buzzer.
It didn’t help the E-Painters that they muffed 16 free-throw attempts. (SB)
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