Awesome Alaska start Aces deal Kings royal beating

Game tomorrow (MOA Arena)

7:30 p.m. – Ginebra vs Alaska

MANILA, Philippines - The Alaska Aces came out in full throttle and mauled a Barangay Ginebra side willing in spirit but lacking in steam, 87-70, in Game One of their best-of-five PBA Commissioner’s Cup title series before a capacity crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The beating was decisive, deep and merciless following a shattering first quarter to open a 22-point lead and the Aces coasted along over the ill-fated spurt of rallies by the Kings.

Starting strong and sustaining a splendid effort throughout, the Aces fashioned out a dominant victory that more than underscored their readiness to nail a first crown in three years.

Badly beaten were the Kings who hardly got into the game, falling behind by as many as 30, (24-54), and coming to within 11 points only with two minutes left to play and a portion of their huge following had started trooping to the nearest exit.

The Aces scored all of the game’s first 14 points – and almost at will in the succeeding minutes – as they ripped the match wide open, 38-13, midway through the second period behind a suffocating defense that left the vaunted Ginebra offense gasping.

They hardly relaxed to complete their domination of the Kings.

“We did a good job taking away their strengths,” said Alaska coach Luigi Trillo.

The Kings literally bled for every point in the first quarter, making only six on a woeful 8.3-percent clip – all-time lowest opening quarter and third all-time lowest output in any quarter in PBA finals history.

“We did a fairly good job on Vernon Macklin. We can’t stop him but we have to control him. And we need to play to our identity,” added Trillo. “They have their identity of playing run-and-gun, and they draw energy from the crowd when they do that. But I think we’re able to take those away from them.”

Simply put, the Aces took away everything from Ginebra with their A-game.

Now 3-0 against Ginebra in the conference, Trillo expressed confidence they could keep their mastery over the Kings in the next game set at the Mall of Asia Arena where he didn’t remember ever losing a game.

“We love MOA. We haven’t lost there, and the pressure is on them,” the youthful Alaska coach said.

Rob Dozier showed up with his huge inside presence, coming through with 22 rebounds and 14 points, RJ Jazul knocked in four triples and topscored with 16 points and four other players hit double-digit outputs in the Aces’ masterful triumph.