Aces muzzle Tigers, 69-62
The Alaska Aces proved they can make the stops when needed, shutting down the Tigers in the last two minutes and 50 seconds, to beat Coca-Cola, 69-62, in the PBA Philippine Cup game in Victorias City, Negros Occidental.
Asi Taulava received a crisp drop pass inside from Alex Cabagnot then scored on a layup to push the Tigers to a slim 62-61 lead with 2:55 to go in the game. But Sonny Thoss and the Aces never again allowed him, or any other Tiger, to score another point to post the scrambling victory.
LA Tenorio eluded Alex Cabagnot on a high pick and roll with Sonny Thoss then scooted past Taulava to score on a left-handed layup to push the Aces back on top 63-62 with 1:34 to go in the game.
Asi Taulava missed a running hook shot at the other end and Thoss recovered the loose ball to hand back possession to the Aces. A three-point baseline attempt by Tony Dela Cruz then rimmed out but Thoss was around to collect the rebound and score on a follow-up to hike the Alaska lead to three, 65-62, with 39 seconds to go.
Thoss sealed the game with two free throws and Tenorio finalized the count with his own pair of freebies.
The Aces followed up their 85-84 victory over the San Miguel Beermen last Sunday to gain a share of the lead with Barangay Ginebra and Rain or Shine, with two straight victories.
The Aces, powered by back-to-back baskets by Larry Fonacier opened the fourth period with a 7-0 run to grab to regain the lead, 55-51.
The Tigers came charging back with their own run capped by a Taulava hook shot which pushed Coca-Cola back on top 60-58. But Willie Miller, held scoreless until that point, drove inside and converted a difficult layup despite being fouled by Taulava. Miller also canned the bonus free throw to push Alaska ahead for good, 61-60, with 5:46 to go in the game.
Things looked to be going the way of the Tigers when they went exclusively to Taulava early in the third period. The Fil-Tongan converted four consecutive layups to finally power Coca-Cola to a 41-37 lead late in the third.
An airborne Jeff Cariaso dropped a nifty bounce pass to a cutting Thoss who easily converted an open layup to tie the count at 43-all with 3:45 to go in the third period.
Both teams struggled early with unfamiliar playing conditions from the sturdy rings, to the hot weather but most especially the strict interpretation by the referees of the traveling violation.
The Tigers sued for time then set up Mark Macapagal for a triple to cut the Alaska lead to only three points at halftime, 31-28.
Thoss zipped along the baseline then reached in for a nifty layup to push Alaska to an early 10-point lead, 17-7, in the first period.
GI Joe Devance opened the second period with a long triple to push the Aces to an imposing 13-point edge, 24-11. But Mark Telan countered with back-to-back baskets followed by a fastbreak layup by Alex Cabagnot, who stole the ball from Miller, as the Tigers clawed their way back into the game, 29-23.
With the defeat the Tigers slid to the bottom of the standings with the Red Bull Barakos and Air21 Express with two losses and no wins.
Scores
Alaska 69
Tenorio 11, Thoss 11, Ferriols 9, Cariaso 8, Hugnatan 8, Fonacier 7, Devance 6, Dela Cruz 6, Miller 3, Sotto 0
Coca-Cola 62
Taulava 21, Macapagal 9, Telasco 8, Telan 6, Cabagnot 6, Arigo 5, Buenafe 5, Rizada 2, Baguion 0
Quarter scores
19-9, 31-28, 48-51, 69-62
