ACES OVERPOWER KINGS FOR WIN NO. 2 pba.inquirer.net/29849/aces-overpower-kings-for-win-no-2?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook Alaska Milk kept its mastery of Barangay Ginebra from the previous conference, carving out a tough 102-99 win to move up to the upper half of the chart in the PBA Governors Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Sunday night. The Aces squandered a 16-point spread early in the final half, but regrouped and overcame a seven-point deficit at endgame to notch a second win in three starts. Down by seven at 89-96, the Aces unraveled a 13-3 closing run to salvage the game versus the very rival they swept away, 4-0, in the recent Commissioner’s Cup finals. “We were lucky to get this one. We’re lucky to face Ginebra playing a second game in three nights,” said Alaska coach Luigi Trillo. “It’s nice to get a win like this, and we have to follow this up,” added Trillo, whose team takes its turn to play a second game in 72 hours in tangling with the Meralco Bolts Tuesday over at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The Aces made good use of their inside strength, dominating the boards, 50-39, and pounding the Kings hard at the paint. Wendell McKines bulldozed his way to 27 points and 16 rebounds while Calvin Abueva powered his way to 18 markers and 11 boards. There were two other Alaska frontliners Gabby Espinas and Sonny Thoss who combined for 24 points and eight rebounds. After losing their grip of the game midway through the third quarter, the Aces waged their own fightback at the finish, frustrating the Kings and their cheering throng. “Coach told us to weather the storm, stick together and never give up. That’s what we did,” said McKines, impressive with his brute force. McKines made a three-point play off Mac Baracael to ignite their decisive endgame that he himself capped with a close stab off a Cyrus Baguio dish with 11 ticks left. Falling behind by three, 99-102, the Kings eventually yielded the game on missed three-pointers by Baracael and Mark Caguioa. The Kings were still in control, 98-94, before Caguioa and Willy Wilson committed back-to-back turnovers that Alaska parlayed into a five-point binge to surge ahead, 99-98, with 1:12 left. The Kings faded away at the finish, making only a single free throw in the last 2:10 of play. LA Tenorio could have tied the count at 100-all but split his foul shots with 34.7 left. In the next play, Baguio set up McKines for a shot underneath to make it 102-99. (SB) The scores: Alaska 102 – McKines 27, Abueva 18, Baguio 18, Espinas 12, Thoss 12, Casio 11, Hontiveros 4, Jazul 0, Eman 0, Dela Cruz 0. Ginebra 99 – Lowhorn 35, Baracael 20, Caguioa 16, Ellis 10, Tenorio 8, Helterbrand 6, Wilson 4, Urbiztondo 0, Mamaril 0. Quarters: 24-14, 50-40, 70-76, 102-99
Posted on: Mon, 02 Sep 2013 00:56:28 +0000
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