Alaska clamps down on Rain or Shine to seal 2nd seed
Alaska Milk held Rain or Shine to a single field-goal conversion in the last seven minutes of play and squeezed out a 94-89 win to claim the No. 2 seeding and a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals of the PBA Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome last night.
The Aces wiped out a seven-point deficit in that stretch and overcame a tough struggle to close out their elims stint at second place behind the San Miguel Beermen (10-1) with a 7-4 win-loss record.
Trailing most of the way, the Aces turned the game around in the closing minutes and sent the Elasto Painters to a joint eighth place finish with the Blackwater Elite at 5-6.
Rain or Shine and Blackwater dispute the eighth and last slot in the quarterfinals in a do-or-die playoff Friday over at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The winner of this knockout setto advances to the quarters against top seed and reigning champion San Miguel Beer.
Alaska Milk, with a twice-to-beat advantage as playoffs second seed, will have No. 7 Barangay Ginebra as quarters foe.
“Yes, we achieved our goal to be No. 2, but our job is not yet over,” said Alaska guard Jvee Casio, the standout in their five-point conquest of Rain or Shine that stretched their streak to three games.
Casio top scored with 25 points, including five booming treys, and had his crucial plays in their mind-boggling 15-3 closing flurry in the gruelling contest.
The Elasto Painters had just posted a seven-point lead at 86-79 on clutch baskets by Jay Washington and James Yap when the Aces made their most decisive move to salvage the game.
The Aces and Star Hotshots actually finished tied at second place behind the Beermen. Alaska claimed the spot on the win-over-the-other rule.
Sonny Thoss, RJ Jazul and Vic Manuel contributed double-digit outputs for the Aces who bucked miserable foul shooting and the early exit by Calvin Abueva on fouls.
Actually, Abueva was limited to playing 12:19 minutes as he picked up three fouls in the first half, two early in the third and his sixth and last with over seven minutes left in the ball game.
The Aces, however, just refused to go away and struck hard at endgame.
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.
