Aces survive Batang Pier

Alaska Aces sorely needed a spark to get it over the hump against a gritty GlobalPort Batang Pier crew Sunday.

Vic Manuel once again led those Aces who heeded the call, resulting in a 105-98 win that stretched their winning streak to six in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Manuel scored seven of his teamhigh 21 points in the extra period to lead Alaska's surge, sustained by the likes of Calvin Abueva and Jayvee Casio, and ultimately at the long end of the game which got stretched to three hours.

As a result, Alaska improved to a 6-2 record and solidified its hold on third-running spot.

The Aces could even move a notch higher, depending on the outcome of the match pitting leader Magnolia Ang Pambansang Manok (6-1) against defending champion San Miguel Beer (5-1) later in the evening.

The loss was the fourth in seven games for GlobalPort, dropping it into a tie for sixth to ninth.

Stanley Pringle wound up with a game-high 28 points on top of eight rebounds and six assists and a slew of other Batang Pier players played well enough for them to control majority of the match that netted them as much as a 75-62 spread.

Alaska's built-in edge in experience came to the fore in the stretch and Sean Anthony taken out by a sprained left ankle with 2:49 left in OT eventually took their toll on GlobalPort's bid, however.

The Batang Pier actually had Pringle to thank for scoring off a tough drive and forging a 93-all count in the last eight seconds of regulation and the game became the first to go into extension for the season when the Aces came up empty in their own thrust.

Anthony trickling in a triple pegged the game's ninth deadlock at 96, before he twisted his ankle off a drive.

With Anthony, who had 21 points and a gamehigh 14 rebounds, gone and Pringle effectively shackled GlobalPort had no one to turn to.

Alaska had plenty, led by Manuel, whose charities and layup gave the Aces the lead for good at 100-96 and they went on to hold on and even stretch the lead to what it was in the end.

PBA IMAGE Stanley Pringle of the GlobalPort Batang Pier goes hard to the basket against Ping Exciminiano of the Alaska Aces during their game last night at the Ynares Center.