5TH STRAIGHT WIN FOR ALASKA AS ABUEVA RECORDS 20-20 GAME ANEW
There’s a reason why Calvin Abueva is called the Beast.
With an impressive conference so far, the former San Sebastian Stag showed why Alaska is at the top of the standings as he once again delivered a masterful performance in the Aces’ 85-75 victory over Kia Tuesday in the 2014-2015 PBA Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Abueva scored 23 points and hauled down 20 rebounds to lead the Aces to its fifth straight victory and stay undefeated in the all-Filipino tourney. He added three assists, three steals and one shotblock in another all-around effort.
It was Abueva’s second 20-20 game in the conference, making him the first local in seven years to have two such games in a conference, or after Asi Taulava did the trick for Coca-Cola in the 2007-08 Philippine Cup. Abueva recorded career-highs in scoring (26) and rebounding (22) when Alaska beat Talk ‘N Text 100-98 last Oct. 28 in a game wherein he scored the game-winning lay-up at the final buzzer.
Vic Manuel also joined Tuesday’s party with his 15 points off the bench, while Dondon Hontiveros added 12 markers. Cyrus Baguio also chipped in 11.
“Kia had the fighting heart and they played really hard. We did not match their intensity, and they pushed us to the limit,” said Alaska head coach Alex Compton.
The American coach said that his wards struggled early as they wanted to pounce on what people perceive as a walk-in-the-park game against Kia, but obviously, their overconfidence came back to haunt them.
“We wanted to make shots early, that’s why we struggled in our offense,” Compton said.
Kia went toe-to-toe with the Aces in the first half, keeping things close until Alaska surged ahead, 63-48, steered by a scintillating 23-3 run in the third period, including 18 unanswered points in one stretch.
Just when everybody thought that the Sorento will just roll over and die, they came back to the game using a 14-3 run to nip the lead down to three, 69-66 with seven minutes still remaining in the payoff period.
And with Kia closing in 77-73 with three minutes left to play, Abueva and the Aces would have the last laugh as they unfurled an 8-0 blast to run away with the game, 85-73.
As the Aces continue to rack up wins, Compton said that their record doesn’t really guarantee anything, and all it assures is that they won’t be down there fighting in the end for a chance to get to the playoffs.
“5-0 means we won’t lose 7 games. It’s what all of that means,” explained Compton.
Reil Cervantes paced Kia with 18 points and six boards, as Joshua Webb got 13 markers and six boards in the loss, the Sorento’s fifth straight.
Rookie Kyle Pascual also had 10 points and five boards as the Sorento fell to 1-5. (RL)
The scores:
Alaska 85 – Abueva 23, Manuel 15, Hontiveros 12, Baguio 11, Banchero 7, Jazul 7, Menk 3, Eman 2, Exciminiano 2, Casio 2, Bugia 1, Dela Cruz 0, Dela Rosa 0.
Kia 75 – Cervantes 18, Webb 13, Pascual 10, Buensuceso 8, Jaime 6, Dehesa 5, Raymundo 4, Lingganay 3, Alvarez 3, Thiele 2, Padilla 2, Sanga 1.
Quarterscores: 11-18, 39-38, 66-52, 85-75
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