Aces dump Kings, gain 4th win in row for lead

Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

4:15 p.m. – Meralco vs Globalport

6:30 p.m. – Talk n Text vs San Mig Coffee

MANILA, Philippines - Alaska Milk and Barangay Ginebra remained on the opposite ends of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup leader board with the former preserving a perfect slate and the latter staying in pursuit of a first win.

The Aces made it 4-0 with an 84-69 victory over the struggling Ginebra side in a Phoenix Fuel-sponsored road game at the Mindanao Civic Center in Tubod, Lanao del Norte last night.

Robert Dozier and his Alaska teammates simply outplayed the Kings and their new import Vernon Macklin, dealing Ginebra a fourth loss in as many games in the mid-season tourney.

The Aces came out well prepared against the highly touted Macklin, putting an efficient defense that kept the new Ginebra import from getting into the groove.

“Their import seems a bit tired. We did a good job making things hard for him,” said Alaska coach Luigi Trillo.

“We had a great collective defensive effort. We played great ‘D’ on Caguioa. He is the barometer for them. Luckily it worked for us in the end,” Trillo also said.

Alaska held Ginebra to 15 points in the final quarter and to a single field goal in the last four minutes as the Aces stayed on a roll, regaining a full-game advantage over closest pursuers Petron Blaze Boosters (3-1) and Barako Bull Energy Cola (3-1).

Macklin, who took over from Herbert Hill, gained some momentum in the third period, scoring seven straight points – two baskets on rim-rattling jams – as Ginebra closed in on the Aces at 53-54.

The Aces, however, quickly reestablished control, sitting on a 61-54 cushion at the end of the third and going on to keep the Kings at bay to the finish.

More aggressive, the Aces led by 10, 31-21, before settling for a 43-39 halftime lead.