MANILA, Philippines -- Greg Slaughter continued to flourish under the triangle system and, this time, made the biggest difference as Brgy. Ginebra finally grabbed its first win under coach Tim Cone in a nerve-wracking game, 93-92, against the hard-luck Alaska Aces in Dubai on early Sunday morning (Manila time).
Slaughter, who drew a reach-in foul with 4.9 seconds left, canned in two pressure-packed free throws that served as the marginal baskets in a game where the Kings almost wasted a 19-point halftime lead.
Slaughter's heroics capped off another huge game for the big man who finished with 27 points, going 15-of-17 at the stripes, while collaring 19 rebounds and issuing four assists.
The Aces dug up their way back into the game after falling to as many as 19 in a lousy start. The team which pride itself with its never-quit attitude appeared headed to the solo top and extend the Kings' woes when Vic Manuel barreled his way to make it 92-91 with 15 ticks left on the clock.
However, Slaughter took matters into his own hands to reverse the fate of Brgy. Ginebra, which started the Cone era with two straight losses.
Slaughter's frontcourt partner Japeth Aguilar also had a double-double of 23 points and 12 boards while old reliables LA Tenorio and Mark Caguioa added 14 and 11, respectively, in leading the Kings to a commanding halftime lead, 56-37.
The Aces slowly chipped away the big deficit with Gilas players Calvin Abueva and Dondon Hontiveros along with Manuel leading the charge.
Abueva dazzled and hustled his way to a 23-point and 10-rebound effort that woke up Alaska from the opening half slumber. Manuel piled up 14 and 7 boards while Dondon Hontiveros riffled in five treys to finish with 15 markers. All that, however, went for naught as Slaughter, with his steady hands, bailed out the Kings in what could have been a huge collapse.
Alaska tasted its first loss in four starts failing to make a fitting follow-up to its 98-94 conquest of Mahindra the night before also here at the heart of the desert.
The Kings, meanwhile, finally trumped the Aces in their last four meetings dating back to the PBA Commissioner's Cup last season.