Over time Alaska triumphs

Alaska Milk and Purefoods fought through two extra periods in gut-wrenching fashion, living and dying, living and dying at every turn until the Aces found some second wind from deep within and pulled off a stirring 106-102 victory in Game Two of their Samsung PBA Governors Cup best-of-seven title showdown at the Araneta Coliseum last night.

The Aces missed potential game-winning baskets in the fourth period and the first overtime but lived on in the second overtime to post a two-game lead in their thriller of a series.

Ron Riley and James Head overcame early fouls and gave the Aces a huge lift once again as they followed up their 79-73 victory in Game One.

Riley scored a career-high 43 points that went with 15 rebounds and seven assists while Head tallied 21 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Curiously, both committed three fouls in the first half and their fourth in the fourth quarter.

Kelvin Price fouled out with 44 seconds left in the final period, leaving a big hole for Purefoods.

Before Price fouled out, the Hotdogs had their own chance to win but Derrick Brown muffed an open layup with the team holding a precarious 84-82 lead. Head scored on a followup off a missed jumper by Bryan Gahol as Alaska pulled even at 84-all.

In the first overtime, Gahol missed a charity and an open layup that could have sealed Alaska’s win and end the agony of the two squads.

Still, the Aces kept their poise and composure and outlasted the Hotdogs in a fierce and furious duel in the second extra period, finally clinching the game which they dominated early on.

With Riley, Head and Lastimosa spearheading their attack, the Aces built a 15-point lead in the third canto.

"I’m just really happy to win it. It’s definitely a big win for us. Ron Riley played an awesome game, hit his treys and did everything he could to help us win," said Alaska coach Tim Cone.

"We’re not giving up. Our players want to come back from adversity and we’ll start Thursday," said Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio.

As in Game One, Brown got off to a sizzling start but the Aces answered with a well-balanced game to seize control in the first half.

Three early fouls on both Riley and Head didn’t prevent Alaska from taking a six-point lead at one point, 43-37, before settling for a 43-40 spread at the turn.

Back-to-back three pointers by Alvin Patrimonio actually gave Purefoods a 31-26 advantage but a 12-2 run capped by Bryan Gahol’s own two straight treys staked Alaska back in the lead at 38-33.

Brown scored 22 points in the first half, including all but two of Purefoods’ first 14 points.