Alaska rallies to edge Barako Bull, 91-89

MANILA, Philippines – Alaska Milk battled back from a seven-point deficit in the last six minutes on a string of three-pointers then grabbed big offensive rebounds at the finish as it turned back Barako Bull, 91-89, to move back in the upper half of the chart in the PBA Governors Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome Wednesday night.

Tony dela Cruz and Wendell McKines combined for three crucial charities off offensive caroms in the last 14 seconds as the Aces nailed the key win that kept them in the running for the Top Four and a twice-to-beat bonus in the quarterfinals.

The Aces improved to 4-4 (win-loss) while sending the Energy Cola to a 4-5 finish in the one-round-robin elimination phase.

Barako’s fate no longer rests on its hands. It has to wait for the results of the two remaining play dates to know whether it’s gaining automatic quarters passage or needing to go through a playoff.

Ronjay Buenafe missed a 3-point attempt at the buzzer allowing the Aces to steal the game.

He muffed an earlier attempt from beyond the arc and a charity off a technical foul by Alaska coach Luigi Trillo, somehow providing the Aces opening to win the game at the finish.

Trillo was called a T as he went after a referee while vehemently questioning a no-call on a driving McKines. Curiously, the Energy Cola were running a transition offense when play had to be stopped because of Trillo’s technical infraction.

“I’m sorry about that. I was really upset. I really saw a foul,” said Trillo later. “Emotions sometimes get the better of us coaches. There’s the competitive nature out there.”

Nonetheless, Barako scored a basket in the next play with Michael Singletary pounding an Alaska defensive breakdown to push the Energy Cola ahead, 89-88, with 23.5 ticks left.

But then Dela Cruz and McKines grabbed big offensive rebounds in the ensuing plays, and went to the stripe to clinch the Aces’ come-from-behind victory.

Earlier, Jayvee Casio, Dondon Hontiveros and Cyrus Baguio rifled in four straight treys as the Aces erased a seven-point deficit at 71-78, racing ahead at 88-87.

It was a tough win for the Aces that had them defying Barako’s 10-0 start, Singletary’s 38-point explosion and Calvin Abueva’s ouster on fouls with 6:36 left to play.

McKines led the Aces with 21 points and 15 rebounds with Baguio, Casio and Gabby Espinas adding 15, 14 and 11 points, respectively.

A lot of guys stepped up for the Energy Cola as they bucked the sidelining of starting point guard Eman Monfort on a jammed finger, engaging the Aces on a battle marked by nine deadlocks and 11 lead changes.

Danny Seigle and Rico Villanueva came through with key plays as Barako roared to a 72-64 lead at the outset of the fourth quarter.