ALASKA BOOKS FINALS SEAT

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Four nights had passed since New Year’s Eve, but Dondon Hontiveros was still in the mode of firing bombs.

Hontiveros dropped five big three-pointers in the fourth quarter and Alaska outlasted Rain or Shine in a gripping battle, pulling off a 79-76 victory to secure the second spot in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Hontiveros’ 15-point explosion in the payoff period coupled by the team’s hard-nosed defense carried Alaska to a first Finals in five conferences and also first under coach Alex Compton, who took over the reins in the 2014 Governors’ Cup.

It was a defensive battle that turned to a shootout at the finish.

As Hontiveros outgunned all RoS shooters in the payoff period, the Aces arranged an exciting title duel with the San Miguel Beermen.

Alaska and San Miguel, the league’s winningest teams with a combined title haul of 33, start their best-of-seven showdown Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“Without question, San Miguel is the best team in the league right now. What do they have? Two MVPs (Arwind Santos and June Mar Fajardo) and a coach that I admire so much,” said Compton, now set to go up against Leo Austria in a curious coaching duel.

The two used to be a coaching pair at Welcoat (now Rain or Shine).

Compton and the Aces gave Alaska a 27th Finals appearance after avenging a loss to coach Yeng Guiao and the Rain or Shine E-Painters in the last Governors’ Cup Final Four.

The Aces capped their tremendous job also with defensive gems at the finish, holding the E-Painters scoreless in the last 2:30 of play.

Trailing by three at 76-79 on two straight treys by Hontiveros, the E-Painters failed to recover with Gabe Norwood and Jeff Chan misfiring three three-point attempts in the last 20 seconds.

Hontiveros, No. 5 in the league behind Allan Caidic, Jimmy Alapag, Ronnie Magsanoc and Al Solis in three-point conversions, topscored with 17 points. Calvin Abueva and Sonny Thoss added 15 and 11, respectively.

“Pinangako ko sa anak ko, panalo kami ngayon,” said Hontiveros.

Chan, Paul Lee, Ryan Arana and Beau Belga came out strong in the third quarter as the E-Painters moved ahead, 60-56, after trailing by eight, 28-36, at the half.

The Aces capped the second quarter with an eight-to-nothing salvo to take that eight-point lead into the halftime break.

Limited to 11-of-37 field shooting in the first 24 minutes, the E-Painters surpassed that just in the third quarter with Chan firing away nine, Lee rifling in seven and Arana and Belga tossing in five apiece.

Chan, Lee and Belga combined for four-of-seven treys in their key third-quarter assault.

But there was no stopping the Aces from putting the series away in the end. (SB)

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