Aces secure second q’final berth

Alaska Milk smothered Coca-Cola, 90-75, on a massive second-half assault to gain automatic entry into the Gran Matador PBA Fiesta Conference quarterfinals at the Araneta Coliseum last night.

Picking up their game as they returned from the halftime huddle, the Aces overcame a 12-point deficit late in the second period as they beat the Tigers in their playoff for the right to join the San Miguel Beermen in an early passage into the quarters.

Settling for the No. 3 spot at the end of the preliminary round, the Tigers now face the No. 10 team Purefoods Hotdogs in the wildcard phase of the transition tourney. The Tigers will enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage versus the Hotdogs.

The post-prelims plays start Saturday in the same venue with Coca-Cola and No. 4 team Talk n Text taking their first of two cracks at the quarters versus Purefoods and FedEx. The Tigers and the Hotdogs collide in the 4:10 p.m. curtain-raiser then the Phone Pals and the Express clash in the 6:30 p.m. mainer.

On Sunday, Red Bull Barako battles Shell and Sta. Lucia Realty fights Barangay Ginebra in a pair of single knockout tiffs.

"As I entered the room, I was remembering an article with three predictions on our finish. One was No. 5, the other was sixth and the other one No. 9. It’s a vindication for us that we took second spot," said Alaska coach Tim Cone on the post-game interview.

The Aces came out smoking in the third quarter, unleashing bombs after bombs to wipe out an eight-point deficit midway through the period and establish an insurmountable lead by the middle of the fourth canto.

Galen Young, Ali Peek, Brandon Cablay, Don Allado and John Arigo keyed the Aces big turnaround from a listless first half that had them trailing by 12 at one point at 34-46.

After surging ahead at 65-60 at the end of the third, there was simply no stopping the Aces in the last quarter.

Young banged in 23 points to pace the Aces who also drew double-digit outputs from Cablay with 18, Peek with 16 and Allado with 12. Arigo had eight with six coming in the fourth quarter.

The Aces had a high 52-percent shooting as against the Tigers’ 37.2-percent clip. The Aces also had more assists, 22-16, and outscored the Tigers, 24-14, on points off turnovers.