Aces come out at full throttle, stun Thunder

Alaska Milk exacted sweet revenge over Red Bull last night as the streaking Aces stepped up their game further for a 95-86 decision in their rematch in the PBA All-Filipino Cup eliminations at the Araneta Coliseum.

Losing what had looked a won ballgame in their first meeting last Feb. 16, the Aces left nothing to chance this time, coming out strong and sustaining the effort throughout as they stopped the Thunder on their track while sustaining their own win run.

The Aces, who got off to a tentative start, losing three straight games after beating the Sta. Lucia Realtors in the season’s opener, moved up to solo fifth at 5-4 while the Thunder slid to second place at 6-3.

So impressive were the Aces that they totally dominated a fierce-fighting team which rarely loses a game by a big margin.

Alaska coach Tim Cone thought they were a bit lucky, catching Red Bull on an off-night.

He said: "I don’t know if we’re back in business but we played real well. Our cylinder just kept on working."

Controlling the boards and shooting the ball very well, the Aces took the half at 53-36 and led by as many as 24 points in the fourth quarter before completing the one-sided triumph.

Cone said they’re really determined to get back at Red Bull to have a better quotient in case they end up tied at the close of the elimination round. The American Alaska menor also said the victory should take away some pressure from them as they play San Miguel Beer in their next outing.

Ali Peek played his best game thus far in an Alaska jersey, outplaying Davonn Harp on the way to logging his career-best 27-point output.

"Ali had an awesome game, playing very well against one of the best low-post defensive players in the league in Davonn Harp," said Cone of Peek.

Kenneth Duremdes, Rodney Santos, Don Allado and John Arigo also outshone their respective men and likewise put in significant numbers for the Aces who foiled the Thunder’s bid stretch further what’s already the franchise’s longest winning streak.

Patrick Fran sank crucial free throws and made a key defensive stop in the closing seconds as Mobiline held off Purefoods, 76-73, for its first win in its last three games and third in eight games in all in the second game.

Purefoods, missing the service of Andy Seigle -- out with a sore back, suffered its fourth straight loss and sixth in nine outings.

Duremdes had 16 points, eight rebounds and the same number of assists, Santos 16 points, three rebounds and two assists, Allado 16 points, 13 rebounds and two assists while Arigo 12 points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal.

The whole Alaska team shot 55 percent from the field to Red Bull’s 36-percent clip. No one among the Thunder hit over the 50-percent mark.

The Aces also lorded it over the boards, snaring 43 rebounds to the Thunder’s 38.