Curiously, three former personnel in the Alaska organization played key roles in the match-up as the Panthers checked their slump against the Aces.
Johnny Abarrientos and Poch Juinio did their part as they literally waged a personal war versus their former ballclub and, thus, helped Pop Cola enhance its bid for a twice-to-beat incentive in the next round of play in the season-opening tournament.
"Ang sarap ng feeling talunin si coach Tim (Cone). Since the start of the season, ito ang pinaghandaan namin ni Poch (Juinio). Gustong-gusto talaga namin silang talunin," said Abarrientos.
"This is a great feeling of relief and happiness for Johnny and Poch because no matter what they say in public na okay lang ang pagkaka-trade sa kanila, deep inside I know they want to get back at Alaska," said Pop Cola coach Chot Reyes, himself a former part of the Alaska team working as assistant to Cone.
"I think things are moving for us. We’re trying to get over the hump. Ang tagal na hindi tinatalo ng Pop Cola ang Sta. Lucia, Alaska at San Miguel. This season, tinalo na namin ang Sta. Lucia at Alaska," added Reyes.
Beating Alaska for the first time in their last nine meetings, Pop Cola moved a win short of an outright twice-to-beat incentive in the quarters with a third-best 7-5 win-loss mark. The Panthers have two cracks at formalizing their claim at a spot in the Magic Four versus Ginebra and Sta. Lucia Realty.
The Aces practically bowed out of the fight for the Top Four on their seventh loss against six wins.
Actually, a number of players stepped up for Pop Cola as the RFM Corp. franchise pulled off its first win over the Uytengsu ballclub in nearly two years.
Rudy Hatfield, one of three players averaging double-double stats in the tournament, put up even bigger numbers with 24 points and 23 rebounds that went with three assists and one steal against three turnovers in 46 minutes of action.
Nelson Asaytono continued to deliver big while playing the sixth man role for the team, tallying 22 points and four rebounds also against three turnovers.
Then there was William Antonio, who buried crucial baskets in the fourth quarter and finished with 11 points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal.
Abarrientos and Juinio combined for 23 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.
"Johnny committed a number of errors because his trying a bit to hard. Gigil. But the kind of poise, maturity and stability he showed at endgame helped us a lot," said Reyes of Abarrientos.