Aces rebound, boot out Elite

Games tomorrow (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

4:15 p.m. – Meralco vs Barako Bull

7 p.m. – San Miguel vs Rain or Shine

MANILA, Philippines - Alaska Milk came out strong coming off the All-Star break, arresting a three-game skid and slamming the playoffs door on Blackwater with a dominant 82-68 victory at resumption of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo last night.

The Aces played well as a team despite the absence of chief playmaker Jvee Casio, drawing a huge double-double game from Damion James and help from Chris Banchero, Chris Exciminiano and Dondon Hontiveros as they eased past the Elite for their third win against five losses.

Doing their job under assistant coach Louie Alas while head coach Alex Compton attended his duties in the All-Star Weekend in Palawan, the Aces knocked out the Elite in the playoffs race in handing them a seventh loss in nine outings.

Blackwater plays its last two games in the tournament against Rain or Shine on March 20 and versus Meralco on March 25.

“That’s not the level of basketball we’re playing last conference but we won on a good defense,” said Compton.

“And at least we had most of our guys. We’re getting better. We’re still far from the top. We’ve got to keep playing better,” said Compton after nailing a first win after successive losses to Rain or Shine, Barako Bull and Kia.

James, a replacement to DJ Covington, tasted a first victory in the local pro league while producing 29 points and 22 rebounds.

Hontiveros, who skipped their last game against Kia and the Palawan All-Star festivities to attend to a personal matter, marked his comeback with crucial three-pointers that helped Alaska break away for good at the start of the fourth quarter.

The Cebuano hotshot, missing what could have been his 12th All-Star Game, contributed nine points all from beyond the arc in the payoff period.

Banchero and Exciminiano chipped in 12 and 10, respectively, for the Aces who opened a 13-point lead early in the second quarter then sustained a steady game, leading by 19 at 81-62.

James rattled in 10 straight points in a 14-3 exchange that had the Aces breaking away from a 67-59 lead.

Curiously, All-Star players Calvin Abueva and Cyrus Baguio weren’t able to contribute much for Alaska with the former scoring just seven markers and the latter winding up with a fat zero.

Al Thornton exploded for a league season high of 50 points as NLEX fashioned out yet another come-from-behind win, thumping Barangay Ginebra, 96-90, to move up to joint fifth place later in the night.

“Credit goes to my teammates too for giving me the ball. I’m here to carry the load. That’s what I’m here to do and I’m confident with that role,” said Thornton after powering the Road Warriors to a third straight win and fourth in their last five games.

Thornton and his teammates overcame a 12-point first-half deficit and tied Ginebra, Barako Bull and Globalport at fifth place at 4-4.