Aces rap Elite, gain share of lead
Games Today (Mall of Asia Arena) 3 p.m. – Talk ’N Text vs Mahindra 5:15 p.m. – Barako Bull vs Ginebra
As the Alaska Aces move up to a share of leadership in the Smart Bro-PBA Philippine Cup, the specter of a winless first conference from last season continues to haunt the Blackwater Elite.
Vic Manuel and Chris Banchero each had 13 points yesterday as the Aces turned back the Elite, 87-79, for their second straight win to tie San Miguel Beer, NLEX and Rain or Shine on top at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Blackwater, on the other hand, absorbed its second consecutive loss, an early trend frighteningly reminiscent of its 0-11 campaign in this same conference last year.
For a while, it looked like the Elite were about to shatter the mold after taking a 48-41 lead at halftime behind some hot shooting and quick ball movement which appeared to baffle the Aces.
But Alaska outscored Blackwater, 2818, in the pivotal third quarter, with Jayvee Casio hitting two three-point shots, with the second giving the Aces a 62-60 lead with 4:24 remaining in the period.
Blackwater would wrest the upper hand away from Alaska one last time, 66-64, on a basket by JP Erram. But by then, the Elite had gone 3 of 12 from the field with 6 turnovers and the Aces 9 of 13 on crest of a rolling offensive thrust, a momentum shift that no longer could be undone.
Alaska ended the quarter with two free throws by Banchero and a 3-pointer from the right wing courtesy of Dondon Hontiveros to make it 69-66 going to the last 12 minutes.
The rest was a formality for the Aces.
A 10-5 run sparked by back-to-back steals gave Alaska a 79-71 lead and Blackwater came no closer than three points from there, with Manuel powering his way inside for a reverse layup and a coast-to-coast drive after Mike Cortez had the Elite threatening one final time, 81-78, with 3:39 to go.
“They outplayed us in the first, but we came out with fire in the second,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton. “I thought our defense improved significantly in the second half. I just hope we learn from the mistakes that we made.”
Erram led Blackwater with 13 points and 9 rebounds and Reil Cervantes added 11, but the Elite failed to make the most out of the sluggish play by a number of Alaska players, with Hontiveros going 1 of 5 from the floor, Cyrus Baguio 2 of 7 in 32:20 minutes and an unusually tame Calvin Abueva 2 of 10 in 20:34.
In the nightcap, Globalport stunned Star, 101-94, behind Stanley Pringle, who fired 23 points and five feeds.
The victory was the first for the Batang Pier in two outings, while the loss was the second in three matches for the Hotshots.
First Game
ALASKA 87 – Banchero 13, Manuel 13, Dela Cruz 11, Casio 10, Abueva 7, Dela Rosa 7, Thoss 6, Hontiveros 5, Baclao 4, Baguio 4, Exciminiano 4, Jazul 2, Magat 1, Eman 0.
BLACKWATER 79 – Erram 13, Cervantes 11, Canada 10, Melano 10, Cortez 9, Reyes 7, Gamalinda 5, Ballesteros 4, Sena 4, Agovida 3, Golla 2, Lastimosa 1, Vosotros 0.
Quarters: 20-22, 41-48, 69-66, 87-79
Second Game GLOBALPORT 101 - Pringle 23, Romeo 20, Kramer 14, Jensen 12, Washington 10, Mamaril 8, Yeo 8, Maierhofer 4, Paniamogan 2, Sumang
0, Uyloan 0. STAR 94 - Pingris 14, Barroca 13, Simon 12, Sangalang 11, Torres 10, Yap 10, Pascual R. 7, Taha 7, Melton 4, Pascual J. 4, Mallari 2. Quarters: 24-17, 48-46, 74-73, 101-94