The Aces displayed the form that made them the pre-season favorite, dominating a Coca-Cola team that also went through a revamp before the conference.
Mike Cortez, who struggled in Guam in the Aces’ loss to the Red Bull Barakos, came out strong against the Tigers, firing 12 points right in the opening quarter to start it all for the Aces.
Cortez made 15 points in the first half then Willie Miller and Jeffrey Cariaso took over in the final half as Alaska kept its mastery of Coca-Cola, which it defeated in four games in their best-of-five quarterfinals showdown in the previous all-Filipino tourney.
Miller went 3-of-4 from beyond the arc and finished with 26 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals in a solid job coming off the bench.
Cortez had two treys and a total of 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists while Cariaso added 17 points, six rebounds and three assists. Nic Belasco was another Alaska player who piled up huge numbers.
Still the Aces just couldn’t put Coke away easily as the Tigers, who came in with top rookie Joseph Yeo, kept battling back in the contest.
"They’re so scrappy they kept on coming back," said Alaska coach Tim Cone. "They made it hard for us to get a pretty win. But coming off a loss, you would take a win anyway you get it."
"We did a little better than the last time against Red Bull. But it’s not good by any means. We made silly turnovers in one stretch," Cone added.
The Tigers exploited those Alaska lapses to trim a 15-point deficit to just six, 69-75, early in the fourth quarter.
But Miller, Cariaso and Belasco put order back in the Aces game, paving the way for Alaska’s trouble-free ride at the finish.
With a lineup toughened by new recruits Aaron Aban and Christian Luanzon, Cone thought they could match up with any team although it was evident the squad lacked its old chemistry.
"We still have to work on our chemistry. That’s one thing which went for Red Bull. They’ve been together much longer than us. They have better chemistry," said Cone.
Cone was impressed with Aban although he had to slowly break in the 6-foot-1 guard-forward in the Alaska system since the former Letran Knight has practiced with them for only a few days.
"He’s so much potential, but he still has to learn what we’re doing. He’s been with us for only two weeks, having to finish his stint with Letran in the NCAA," said Cone.
Yeo, the No. 3 pick in the recent rookie draft, bled for only four points in his first game as a pro. He was 0-of-2 from the three-point area and 1-of-5 from the two-point zone.