ACES STORM TO BRINK OF CROWN
Alaska Milk stayed perfect at the MOA Arena, kept a clean mark versus Barangay Ginebra in the tourney, and stormed the threshold of a first championship in three years.
The Aces shook off the Kings’ strong start and raced ahead then pulled away in the second quarter en route to a 104-90 win pushing Alaska 2-0 up in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-five titular playoff before a crowd of nearly 18,000 at the Pasay playing venue Friday.
Rob Dozier and Sonny Thoss again imposed their presence at the paint, and the Alaska backcourt and wingmen again outsmarted and outplayed their Ginebra counterparts as the Aces kept their mastery of the Kings to move within a win of the coveted crown.
The Aces dominated the Kings practically on all fronts as they did in their 87-70 rout in Game One.
And as the series returns to the Big Dome Sunday, coach Luigi Trillo and his troops have a chance to score the first 3-0 finals victory in the league in 26 years.
The battered, worn-out Kings need to win three in a row to salvage the series. Alas, Ginebra has yet to beat Alaska even once in the tourney.
“We have a firm game plan working. Until they figure it out, we’ll keep doing the same,” said Trillo.
Only two teams in league history has come back from 0-2 down to win a best-of-five titular series. Crispa and Purefoods did the feat in 1976 and 1990 both under legendary coach Baby Dalupan.
“Ginawa na namin lahat, pero wala pa rin,” said LA Tenorio.
Trillo felt the Kings would already be tired and frustrated going to Game Three. Nonetheless, the youthful Alaska mentor said would not take anything to chance.
“Sunday will be a big test for them but we’ll give them the same respect,” said Trillo.
Dozier outperformed Vernon Macklin yet again with the Alaska import hauling down 20 rebounds and scoring 15 points as against his counterpart’s 13 boards and eight markers.
Thoss was a big help as the Aces’ first line of defense against Macklin, and so did Calvin Abueva, Cyrus Baguio, Dondon Hontiveros and Jayvee Casio with their offensive contributions, firing away at least 13 points each.
Tenorio and Jayjay Helterbrand combined for 23 points, leading some spurts by the Kings in the first and in the final quarters.
The Aces, however, proved to have more than enough to scuttle the Kings’ challenges.
“We have to weather their first-quarter storm. We knew they’re gonna come out with a lot of energy. There’s a lot of pride on that side. But it’s hard to do it 48 minutes playing only eight to nine guys,” said Trillo.
The Aces stormed away in the second quarter, led by as many as 24 in the third period and easily fended off the Kings’ chase at endgame.
Alaska started to clamp down on Ginebra in the second quarter, holding the Kings to 6-of-21 field shooting to open a 54-37 margin at the half.
With big stops translating to key baskets, the Aces cut loose from a 31-29 count, pulling away at 49-33.
The Kings showed some promise early on with Tenorio, Mac Baracael and Josh Urbiztondo getting the team to an 11-4 start. (SB)
The scores:
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