Aces, Bolt scramble for lead

Alaska Milk and Meralco both vow to dish out their best in what could well be a grind-out battle in Game Three of their PBA Governors Cup Final Four showdown at the Cuneta Astrodome Thursday.

Back to square one after two games, the Aces and the Bolts face off in a pivotal match in their semis series that is now down to a best of three.

"It's now a best of three. It's going to be a battle like the first two games. We have to be ready for Meralco's best, and as such we have to bring out best," said Alaska coach Alex Compton.

"We will go back to the drawing board and see what adjustments are needed in Game Three. It's important that we come out with more energy and we do a better job rebounding the ball," said Meralco coach Norman Black.

The Aces and the Bolts clash at 7 p.m. with the winner edging closer to the best-ofseven finals versus the victor in the Magnolia-Barangay Ginebra semis series.

It could well be a question of desire and will or which team can impose itself on the other team.

In Game One, the Bolts came out well prepared against the Aces' touted pressing defense and ran an impeccable game almost throughout on the way to a 97-92 win.

In Game Two, the Aces flexed their muscles a lot more and dictated the tempo en route to a series-tying 100-95 victory.

As Mike Harris drew the support that he didn't get from his teammates in the series opener, the Aces put the stop on the Bolts' seven-game romp Tuesday and thus set the stage for at least two more games in their semis showdown.

Black said they would regroup as they hope to recover right away.

Hardly slowing down for Alaska is super-strong import Mike Harris who collected 37 points and 19 rebounds in Game One then also poured in 37 markers and added 18 boards in Game Two.

A pesky defense coupled by a hot shooting from the outside and from the stripe enabled the Aces to lead by as many as 20 before fending off a Meralco chase at endgame. —