ACES, ROAD WARRIORS TARGET 1ST W
Alaska and NLEX, clashing in the quarterfinals of the recent Philippine Cup, renew their rivalry in a showdown at The Arena in San Juan Saturday, a Petron Blaze-sponsored match originally set in Polomolok, South Cotabato.
Game time is at 5 p.m. as the two teams mix it up again after the Aces outfought the Road Warriors, 82-78, a month ago during the first stage of the quarterfinals in the last all-Filipino tourney.
Alaska, which went all the way to the Philippine Cup Finals versus eventual champion San Miguel Beer, also drubbed NLEX, 90-84, during the elims.
The Road Warriors are hopeful of finally pulling one over the Aces while pitting import Al Thornton versus DJ Covington.
Thornton, a former NBA All-Rookie First Team member, delivered 28 points and 12 rebounds as the Road Warriors put up a tough fight versus the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters before yielding, 91-96,Wednesday.
On the same day, Covington struggled for merely 19 points and five rebounds as they fell in an 88-108 rout by the Purefoods Star Hotshots.
The Road Warriors could well be in better form at this point, coming off a stint in the Dubai International Basketball Championships.
In their Commissioner’s Cup debut, the Aces looked not yet ready to plunge back into action after their tough grind in the last conference.
“We caught them off. They had very little practice time. Their turnaround time was so short. They didn’t have much practice time with their import. All those things conspired to help us,” Purefoods coach Tim Cone noted.
Purefoods dominated Alaska from the get-go, leading by 24 points right in the first half at 55-31.
Not helping Alaska’s cause were the injuries of Sonny Thoss and Jvee Casio.
Thoss will be out for at least four weeks due to a plantar fasciaitis while Casio could be out for two weeks with a hand injury. Josh Vanlandingham has been reactivated in lieu of Thoss. (SB)
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