Aces hold off B Pier, lead 2-1

Game today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

5 p.m. – San Miguel vs Rain or Shine

MANILA, Philippines – Alaska Milk’s shock-troopers, led by Vic Manuel and Calvin Abueva, dealt Globalport tremendous beating in the second and fourth quarters leading to a crucial 82-69 win and the 2-1 advantage in their Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinals at the MOA Arena last night.

The Alaska energy group shook off the team’s pathetic start and later returned to give the Aces a strong finish for a second straight win after yielding the series opener.

“No way we’re gonna be content, we’re not yet there,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton.

As in the previous game, Manuel, Abueva, RJ Jazul, Chris Banchero and Dondon Hontiveros all churned out big games coming off the bench, tearing apart the Batang Pier and their individualistic plays.

“Credit to coach Pido (Jarencio) and their staff, they kicked our butts in the third quarter. But then we had a huge defensive effort. It’s not easy guarding those guys,” said Compton.

From their intensity and energy on defense they generated their offense.

Manuel top scored with 16 points, Abueva collected 15 rebounds and nine markers, RJ Jazul completed a double-double game with 12 points and 10 rebounds while Banchero and Hontiveros added 10 and nine points, respectively.

Another key contribution by Jazul was getting under Terrence Romeo’s skin. He drew the Globalport star’s second technical foul resulting in  an outright ejection with 6:37 left to play.

Billy Mamaril took the exit earlier due to back spasm. Rico Maierhofer joined them in the showers with a sixth and final foul with 4:09 left to play.

As the more experienced team, the Aces seemed to beat the Batang Pier yet again on a mind game, seizing control and pulling away from a 54-57 count at the start of the fourth quarter.

Romeo led a Globalport rally from double-digit deficits in the first half only to lose his poise and composure in the thick of the battle in the fourth quarter.

Nonetheless, the 5-foot-10 scoring machine paced the Batang Pier with 17 markers.

Both teams struggled badly on offense in the first half, with the Aces banking on some energy and firepower provided by their reserves to take the half at 36-26.

Abueva, Manuel, Hontiveros, Jazul and Banchero checked in earlier than usual, sparking a decisive attack that gave Alaska a 26-13 lead from 3-11 down.

Alaska preserved a 10-point advantage at the turn with the Aces faring better in a duel of floundering teams in the first 24 minutes of play.

Meanwhile, the E-Painters and the Beermen break their one-game tie in their own best-of-seven semifinal showdown at 7 p.m. tonight at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Going to the game, JunMar Fajardo is already the tournament leader in scoring with an average of 25.2 points and in rebounding with a norm of 14.8. Fajardo has just moved past Terrence Romeo (24.8) in scoring and got by Greg Slaughter (14.4) in caroms.

But San Miguel’s problem is lack of support for the big man, and that is something the E-Painters are exploiting as they did in their series-tying 105-97 victory in Game Two.

The Aces converted only 36 percent (15-of-41) of their shots while the Batang Pier were worse with a 26-percenr clip (11-of-42).

The scores: 

ALASKA 82 – Manuel 16, Jazul 12, Banchero 10, Casio 10, Abueva 9, Hontiveros 9, Exciminiano 4, Baguio 3, Menk 3, Baclao 2, Dela Cruz 2, Thoss 2, Dela Rosa 0.

GLOBALPORT 69 – Romeo 17, Pringle 12, Kramer 11, Washington 7, Sumang 6, Yeo 6, Jensen 5, Maierhofer 5, Mamaril 0, Peña 0, Semerad 0, Uyloan 0.

Quarterscores: 26-13, 36-26, 53-53, 82-69