DOZIER-LED DEFENDING CHAMPS QUICKLY GET BACK ON TRACK
Defending champion Alaska finally got on track in the PLDT Home TVolution PBA Commissioner’s Cup by beating GlobalPort 93-77 Saturday at the Cuneta Astrodome for its first win, three days after a conference-opening day loss to Talk ‘N Text.
The Aces, who lost to the Tropang Texters 85-72 last Wednesday, were carried on the shoulders of last year’s Best Import in this very same tourney – Rob Dozier – who engineered a 15-1 breakaway run at the start of the final period, turning an erstwhile close game into a blowout.
Held to just four points in the first 24 minutes of play, Dozier tallied 21 in the second half, 15 of them in that payoff period, including his team’s first 13 in that telling 15-1 game-changing run.
The 6-9 Memphis alum actually outscored the entire Batang Pier squad in that fourth quarter 15-10, handing GlobalPort its second defeat in as many games under new head coach Pido Jarencio.
“When the going gets tough, Robert Dozier gets going,” beamed Alaska head coach Luigi Trillo of his prized import.
“I’m so proud of him. Everytime he went down (from a fall), he got up… Dozier got going and everybody got going. It’s a war of attrition for him,” Trillo also said of his import who added 15 rebounds, five assists, one shotblock and had just one turnover in 37 minutes of action while shooting 7-of-15 from the field and 11 of 13 from the free-throw line.
Four other players scored in double figures for Alaska led by the 18 points apiece of RJ Jazul and Gabby Espinas who both did it off the bench. JVee Casio added 11 points which came with four boards, three steals and two dimes.
GlobalPort, which dropped an 83-78 decision to Air21 in the conference-opening game last Wednesday, actually led by as much as 65-59 near the end of the third period and was still ahead 67-65 entering the final quarter.
But the Batang Pier, who were led anew by import Evan Brock’s 21 points and 11 rebounds, missed their first 12 shots from the field, had three turnovers and was held to just one free throw in the first nine minutes of that fourth canto to be left behind for good.
Jay Washington’s 14 off-the-bench points led three local players in double figures for GlobalPort with 12 of his output coming in the third. But he was held scoreless in the final 12 minutes of action. (FM)
The scores:
ALASKA 93 – Dozier 25, Jazul 18, Espinas 18, Casio 11, Baguio 7, Thoss 6, Hontiveros 4, Dela Cruz 2, Abueva 2.
GLOBALPORT 77 – Brock 21, Washington 14, Cabagnot 12, Romeo 11, Macapagal 8, Chua 5, Yee 3, Garcia 3, Nabong 0, Hayes 0, Salva 0, Salvador 0, Custodio 0.
Quarterscores: 23-15, 42-39, 65-67, 93-77
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