ALASKA CLAIMS PLAYOFF NO. 1 SEED
The PBA Commissioner’s Cup elims pennant now belongs to the Alaska Milk Aces.
Before a crowd of over 15,000 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the Aces made a decisive run from an 86-all count and topped the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 102-93, to secure playoffs top-seeding in the mid-season tourney.
They finish on top of everybody regardless of the result of their last game in the elims versus the Globalport Batang Pier at the Mall of Asia Arena Sunday.
“No. 1 doesn’t mean anything to us. It just gives you twice-to-beat advantage. We still need to win to make the Top Four,” said Alaska coach Luigi Trillo.
“On a good note, No. 1 means we’re growing. We’re No. 5 in the elims in the last Philippine Cup,” Trillo added.
Shut out in the first five minutes of the final half, the Aces fought back silencing the Kings in a five-minute stretch in the crunch to nail the decisive win that guaranteed them of a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
“It’s good that we value our possessions and we had enough as Ginebra made their comeback. We survived the run,” said Trillo.
Alaska squandered a 14-point halftime spread, but recovered and outlasted Ginebra in a shootout, thus, ending the Kings’ incredible six-game romp.
Their first loss in four games minus main man Mark Caguioa virtually eliminated them in the fight for the Top Two.
At 7-6, Ginebra is a game and a half behind second-running Rain or Shine (8-4) and half-game adrift of third-running Petron Blaze (7-5).
Rob Dozier came through with a huge double-double with 28 points and 20 rebounds with Cyrus Baguio, Gabby Espinas, Calvin Abueva and Jayvee Casio adding at least 10 points each as the Aces made it two in a row over the Kings in the elims.
Baguio scored on a floater, igniting a key 10-to-nothing run that gave the Aces a 96-86 lead with 58.3 seconds left to play.
The Kings got into the game on a swashbuckling 16-0 opening run in the third period, erasing their 14-point halftime deficit of 41-55.
Vernon Macklin, LA Tenorio and Mac Baracael stood at the forefront of Ginebra’s charge, enabling the Kings to fight the Aces through four deadlocks and 10 lead changes in the second half.
Macklin put in near triple-double numbers with 27 points, 18 rebounds and eight assists while LA Tenorio got away with 19 markers and Baracael contributed 16. (SB)
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
