Aces outwork Hotshots to move within win of finals berth
Romeo Travis. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
As planned, Alaska Milk asserted itself versus Star throughout Friday night, ending nights of dramatic comebacks in the PBA Governors Cup Final Four.
The Aces had no big deficits to overcome this time as they buckled down to work early and seemingly outworked the Hotshots every inch of the way for a dominant 95-74 victory before a stunned Star throng at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Romeo Travis again stood out with 19 points and 14 rebounds while Chris Exciminiano and Noy Baclao came out as surprise package, helping carry the Aces to the brink of the best-of-seven finals.
Calvin Abueva, Chris Banchero, Cyrus Baguio, Vic Manuel, Dondon Hontiveros and Jayvee Casio were in the mix that worked for the Aces’ big follow-up of their come-from-behind 97-91 win in Game One.
Alaska coach Alex Compton said he would sound like a broken record but insisted it’s about their defense.
Interestingly, Compton said he owes Star coach Tim Cone for his defensive mindset.
“In a clinic that we had with the NBTC six years ago, we invited coach Tim to speak. One thing he said that stuck in my mind was defense is about character. It left an impression on me. And it’s really true,” said Compton to point out another clampdown effort on the Hotshots.
“We limited them to 33 points in the second half. That’s a tremendous effort,” Compton stressed.
The two teams engaged in a battle in the first half before the Aces – actually clicking on both ends – slowly pulled away, leading by as many as 21 at one point at 93-72.
Leading by eight at 80-72, the Aces eventually broke Star’s back on a 13-to-nothing romp by Exciminiano, Baclao, Baguio and Travis.
Playing on borrowed time, Exciminiano and Baclao seized the moment, contributing 10 points each.
“They played like All-Stars,” said Compton.
“Ping (Exciminiano) struck with two three-pointers and we’re up by six at the half. Then there’s Noy (Baclao). He doesn’t play most of the time, but he came out and he’s an epitome of a professional. He made his shots and it came with his great defense,” Compton added.
Baclao, a former top draft pick that has become a journeyman, got some minutes after Abueva picked up four fouls in the first half.
The former Ateneo star made an impact in the third quarter, rattling in eight points to help fuel Alaska’s surge to a 71-58 lead going into the payoff period.
Travis started firing in the second quarter and Exciminiano struck coming off the bench in the same period as the Aces took the half at 47-41.
Earlier, Abueva beat the buzzer with a trey as the Aces knotted the count at 23 after the opening quarter.
Abueva piled up 11 points while Travis and Exciminiano logged eight apiece to lead the Aces to the six-point advantage at the turn.
Exciminiano went 2-of-2 Sent from my iPhone
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