Aces subdue Painters for 2-1 lead

MANILA, Philippines – Alaska Milk established command right in the opening period then endured a bruising battle through the next three quarters as it subdued Rain or Shine, 94-78, for the 2-1 lead in their PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinal series at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Monday night.

Beaten at the start of both Games One and Two, the Aces turned things around in this game, then held their ground in a rugged showdown that saw a lot of elbows flying and bodies thrown to the floor.

While the Elasto Painters lost coach Yeng Guiao and Beau Belga on technical fouls, the Aces finished the game cool, composed and with the crucial victory.

Calvin Abueva, Eric Menk, Cyrus Baguio and Jvee Casio composed a Big Four that made the big difference for the Aces.

Abueva delivered a career-high 28 points that went with 14 rebounds, Menk came through with his own double-double game with 13 markers and 11 boards while Baguio and Casio combined for 22 points, six rebounds and five assists.

For coach Alex Compton, defense was still the biggest factor.

“I thought our defense was really good – sort of the key for us in this conference. Look, we gave up only 27 points in the first half,” said Compton.

From a 10-all count, the Aces unleashed a 14-2 run to take the opening quarter at 24-12 then sustained the charge to go to the halftime huddle with a comfortable 42-27 spread.

And there’s no stopping Alaska with the Aces keeping an efficient pressing defense and outgunning the Elasto Painters in the next two quarters.

The Aces didn’t back down from the physical game either.

No easy fouls were given as the two teams engaged in a rugged match from the start.

Three technical fouls were called right in the first half. And a few minutes into the third quarter, Guiao and Belga headed to the dugout with their second “Ts.”

The Elasto Painters refused to give up, but neither the Aces who took the third at 65-57 then led by as many as 18 at 92-74 before completing the win.

With their untiring pressing "D", the Aces held the E-Painters to a mere 32.9-percent clip.

Alaska’s aggressiveness was also very evident as the Aces battered the E-Painters, 16-2, on offensive rebounds and, 17-2, on second-chance points.

For Rain or Shine, the lone bright light was sophomore center Raymond Almazan who scored a team-high 20 points.

Alaska could have scored a bigger rout if not for 15 free throw misses.