Aces survive Enforcers

The Alaska Aces relied on defense to survive Manny Pacquiao and the Mahindra Enforcers, 98-94, in Dubai Friday.

Games Today (Philsports Arena) 3 p.m. – Globalport

vs Barako Bull 5:15 p.m. – Star vs NLEX

Manny Pacquiao made a go at it in Dubai, but the Alaska Aces and the reincarnation of the famed Bruise Brothers were not as willing to become footnotes to history as Chris Tiu and Rain or Shine a few weeks ago.

Alaska went breathless in the desert air at past midnight Saturday after Mahindra wiped out a 13-point halftime deficit, but the Aces hung on to beat the Enforcers, 98-94, and claim half of the leadership in the Smart Bro-PBA Philippine Cup at the Al Wasl Sports Club in the United Arab Emirates.

They now go up against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel for a 4-0 slate at the completion of back- to-back PBA games before thousands of OFWs and their families in this sweltering tourist hub in the Gulf region.

The Aces-Kings 12 a.m. game (here in Manila) was still six hours away at press time.

A 15-point second quarter lead, it turned out, was not a safe thing when Pacquiao, the Mahindra playing-coach, is in the house.

With the crowd behind them, the Enforcers came back strong in the second half as LA Revilla and Mark Yee combined to cut away at the Aces advantage, eventually tying the score, 87-all, on an Aldrech Ramos fall-away with 1:27 remaining.

But Alaska, a survivor of countless close games, kept its poise.

Putting their fate in the new version of the Bruise Brothers, made popular by the frontline duo of Yoyoy Villamin and Ricky Relosa during the Wilfred Steven Uytengsu franchise’s Hills Bros. years in the late ‘80s, the Aces went to Vic Manuel and Calvin Abueva in the endgame, with some help from Jayvee Casio, to quash the threat.

Manuel finished with 17 points (12 in the first half), 9 rebounds and 3 steals, while Abueva added 15 points with 13 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists, both of them coming off the bench and having exposure for no more than 22 minutes.

Mahindra, meanwhile, fell to 0-3 in the standings, the loss flushing down the drain the first career double-double performance by Mark Yee (17 points, 13 rebounds) and the 19 rebounds of 6-foot-5 former San Sebastian Stag Bradwyn Guinto, the first such board production by a rookie since San Miguel Beer’s June Mar Fajardo two seasons ago.

Pacquiao started for his team but failed at his efforts for an encore to his “historic” first basket – as fellow House of Representatives member and Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao labeled it – over Elasto Painters guard Chris Tiu last Oct. 25.

The eight-division world boxing champion played the off-guard position for 6:55 minutes in the first quarter where he went 0 of 4 from the field against a less accommodating Aces defense, with two 3-point attempts.

Meantime, actions shifts to the Philsports Arena in Pasig (formerly ULTRA) for the next six playdates and two more of the succeeding three gamedays.

At 3 p.m. today, Globalport and Barako Bull, both coming off confidence-building victories, clash in search of their second win in three games, while the NLEX Road Warriors hope to tie ROS (and Alaska after the Mahindra game) with a 3-0 card when they take on the Star Hotshots (1-2) at 5:15 p.m.

Globalport took apart Star, 10194, last Oct. 30, while Barako Bull stunned Barangay Ginebra, 8279, the day after. NLEX, on the other had, made it back-to-back wins earlier by turning back Barako Bull, 93-85.

Shooting guard Allein Maliksi, suspended by Star coach Jason Webb after posting a “Play Me or Trade Me” T-shirt on Instagram, has been reactivated and joined Hotshots practice a few days ago. It remains uncertain though if he will see inside time against NLEX.

Scores:

ALASKA 98 – Manuel 17, Abueva 15, Casio 12, Baguio 8, Thoss 7, Dela Rosa 7, Menk 7, Dela Cruz 6, Hontiveros 6, Jazul 5, Banchero 4, Magat 4, Baclao 0, Exciminiano 0.

MAHINDRA 94 – Revilla 19, Yee 17, Canaleta 12, Ramos 12, Bagatsing 8, Guinto 6, Pinto 5, Paredes 5, Laure 4, Hubalde 4, Webb 2, Pacquiao 0, Baloria 0, Alvarez 0.

Quarters: 31-22, 53-40, 7066, 98-94.