Aces clip Hotshots, seal Final 4

Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 4:30 p.m. – Meralco vs Ginebra 7 p.m. – San Miguel vs TNT KaTropa

For the first time in six conferences, the proud Alaska Milk ball club is back in the PBA Final Four.

With another sterling effort from Vic Manuel, Chris Banchero and Diamon Simpson, the Aces sent the Magnolia Hotshots down on their knees, pulling off an 89-78 victory to claim the first semifinal spot in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

Manuel, the leading BPC contender, delivered an 11th straight 20-point game with 22 while Simpson and Banchero came through with their own clutch games as the Aces advanced to the semifinals versus the winner in the San Miguel Beer-TNT KaTropa quarterfinal matchup.

“How I missed the semis. There’s usually a good relationship between the semis and Alaska. But I don’t know this year,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton shortly after the game.

“Obviously, I didn’t want to play them Thursday. You don’t want to be there. Getting this win, nakahinga ako ng malalim,” Compton also said.

In the first game, Jonathan Grey knocked in a lethal trey at endgame to highlight what’s easily his worthiest performance in his young pro career as eighth seed GlobalPort nipped top seed Rain or Shine, 114-113, in a gripping battle to force a rubber match.

The two teams clash in a do-or-die for a spot in the Final Four tomorrow over at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.

Malcolm White and Stanley Pringle also came up with big games as the Batang Pier lined themselves up for a shot at a first semifinal stint since shocking the highly fancied Barangay Ginebra team in their onegame quarterfinal tiff in the 2016 Philippine Cup.