Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4:15 p.m. – Barako Bull vs Globalport
6:30 p.m – Ginebra vs Air21
MANILA, Philippines - Alaska Milk came through with a stirring five-point binge on two amazing plays in the last 10 seconds as the Aces jolted the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 83-81, in the second play date of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.
Calvin Abueva knocked in a three-pointer from way out then blocked a shot by Bruno Sundov, paving the way for Cyrus Baguio’s buzzer-beating layup that had the Aces grabbing the game from the hands of the badly stunned Elasto Painters.
“We scratched and clawed for that one,†said Alaska coach Luigi Trillo himself surprised they were able to steal the game from the E-Painters who took control most of the way behind their 7-foot-3 center.
Sundov put in a dominant performance with 30 points and 15 rebounds but failed to clinch the win for his team as he was blocked by Abueva with about seven seconds left to play.
The Aces took the loose ball, and Baguio took matters into his hands, quickly attacking the hoop for the winning basket that left everybody in the venue in shock.
“They (the E-Painters) were so imposing out there. They’re playing incredible basketball and we just battled through,†said Trillo.
“Sundov is the barometer among the imports in this conference, and it’s nice for Robert (Dozier) to pick him up in the second half,†Trillo also said.
The Alaska import, giving at least five inches in height against the RoS reinforcement, simply worked hard, logging 21 points and 16 rebounds.
Sonny Thoss and Abueva were of enormous help, with the former coming through with 17 points and the latter chipping in 14 rebounds and eight markers.
Abueva, Alaska’s prized draft recruit, made the biggest plays with his three-pointer and shot block in the last 10 seconds.
The former San Sebastian College hotshot canned in the important trey from a broken play where Gabe Norwood nearly stole off Jayvee Casio.
Keeping possession, Casio got the ball to Abueva in time to beat the shot-clock buzzer.
Rain or Shine made a key 15-point swing in the first half, wiping out an early eight-point deficit then leading by seven at 39-32.
Ty Tang and Beau Belga fired a triple each while Sundov knocked in a short bank shot as the E-Painters kept a seven-point margin, 47-40, at the turn.
Sundov was 5-of-7 from the field and 3-of-5 from the stripe. He was the lone player who had had a double-digit output by the opening half.
Eric Dawson, a winner in the NBA D-League and in the Japanese league, delivered a monstrous 37-point performance, powering Meralco to a 99-92 win over three-peat all-Filipino champion Talk n Text later in the night.
A former San Antonio Spur, Dawson went 14-of-24 from the field and 9-of-15 from the stripe for the most productive debut by any import in the tourney thus far.
“It’s all about going hard,†said Dawson after the game.