Alaska crushes TNT; ROS grabs solo lead
ANTIPOLO – Alaska Milk was on a rampage again, uncorking its fury this time against unbeaten leader TNT KaTropa, 110-100, in a game it dominated early with a double-digit lead and sutained throughout four quarters for its third straight victory in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Sports Center here last night.
Vic Manuel, now injury-free and in tiptop shape, continued to play like an import, churning out another huge game with 29 points and 12 rebounds to power the Aces to another classic victory following a 93-74 rout of the Blackwater Elite and a 134-103 demolition of the Columbian Dyip squad.
Against the Texters, Manuel and his teammates led by as many as 25 points before clinching the win that forced a three-way tie at 3-1 among Alaska, TNT KaTropa and Meralco.
The Aces quickly turned things around since dropping their conference debut against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 103-109.
Starters Antonio Campbell, Jvee Casio, Chris Banchero, Kevin Racal and Sonny Thoss opened a double-digit spread, 12-2, right at the get-go, and the Alaska bench, led by Manuel and Calvin Abueva, provided added firepower as the Aces decimated the TNT team that was a solid lot in its first three games against GlobalPort, Phoenix Petroleum and Barangay Ginebra.
Alaska did everything right on offense and defense as it raced to a 59-43 lead and stayed out of harm’s way all throughout the second half.
The Texters closed in a bit only in the final minute when the outcome was beyond recall.
“Focus and hard work, and it’s paying off,” said Manuel, the lead gun in each of Alaska’s three wins.
In the nightcap, Raymond Almazan endured battles with June Mar Fajardo and Christian Standhardinger, and seized the moment in overtime as Rain or Shine upended San Miguel Beer, 123119, for a fourth win in five outings.
Kept on the bench in the fourth quarter, Almazan scored eight of his 25 points in his return to the floor in the extra period as the E-Painters dealt the titleholders a second straight loss in the tourney.
The scores:
First Game Alaska 110 – Manuel 29, Campbell 23, Casio 10, Abueva 9, Banchero 8, Racal 8, Enciso 7, Magat 7, Thoss 5, Teng 4, Baclao 0, Exciminiano 0, Potts 0. Talk N Text 100 – Castro 18, Romeo 17, Tyler 16, Rosario 15, Cruz 10, Pogoy 9, Semerad 5, Trollano 5, Reyes 3, Paredes 2, Golla 0, Carey 0, Garcia 0, Saitanan 0. Quarterscores: 34-26, 59-43, 85-67, 110-100
Second Game RAIN OR SHINE 123 – Johnson 27, Almazan 25, Tiu 16, Ahanmisi 16, Norwood 15, Daquioag 7, Torres 5, Washington 5, Ponferada 4, Yap 3, Onwubere 0. SAN MIGUEL 119 – Santos 29, Fajardo 26, Lassiter 18, Standhardinger 17, Cabagnot 14, Gillenwater 11, Ross 2, Ganuelas-Rosser 2, Espinas 0. Quarterscores: 30-23, 49-63, 84-90, 112-112, 123-119 (OT).