Aces hold off Beermen to stay unbeaten

MANILA, Philippines -- Alaska Milk held San Miguel Beer without a field-goal conversion in the last 2:28 of play and went to Jvee Casio for the clutch baskets as the Aces beat out the Beermen, 66-63, in a gut-wrenching battle to remain the lone unbeaten team in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.

Casio faked off Arwind Santos and knocked in a perimeter shot then canned in two charities off a foul by Sol Mercado inside the last 32 seconds as Alaska upended San Miguel in a tough defensive battle and stayed perfect in four starts in the all-Filipino tourney.

“I couldn’t be prouder of us holding them down to 63 points,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton of their defensive effort, giving the franchise its lowest winning score ever.

“We couldn’t score either. It’s really a defensive battle and I’m proud of the guys in getting the character win,” Compton also said.

The Beermen actually held control most of the way, leading by 11 points once and were ahead by six at 61-55 before failing to score a field goal any longer.

Sol Mercado and Chris Lutz made a free throw each as against Alaska’s 11 points in the last two minutes of the game.