Thursday, October 16, 2008 · News

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[Visit YouTube: Alaska Aces Wild Wild White Water Rafting in Cagayan de Oro.]

It was not his usual explosive scoring performance but Willie Miller did enough to power the Alaska Aces past the Red Bull Barakos, 89-83, at the JCSGO gym - an old cramped playing court along narrow 15th Avenue, at the outskirts of Cubao about one kilometer away from the deserted Araneta Coliseum inside the spacious Araneta Center.

Miller finished with 13 markers, grabbed nine rebounds and issued six assists to lead the Aces to another victory without needing to score too many points. With the win the Aces streaked to a league-best three wins to vault to the top of the standings of the PBA Philippine Cup.

Trailing the Aces are the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings (2-0), the Talk N Text Tropang Texters (2-1), the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (2-1), the San Miguel Beermen (2-1), the Sta. Lucia Realtors (1-1), the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants (1-2), the CocaCola Tigers (1-2), the Red Bull Barakos (0-3) and the Air21 Express (0-3).

Jeff Cariaso struck hardest when needed most, scoring four of the final five points of the Aces.

Gabby Espinas of Red Bull cut the Alaska lead to only a single point, 82-81, but Miller converted a follow up attempt to hike the Aces lead, 84-81.

Larry Rodriguez then missed an attempt and Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao vehemently contested a non-call which resulted in a technical foul.

Cariaso converted the technical free throw to push the Aces to a more comfortable lead, 85-82, with just 1:23 left in the game.

Espinas missed two free throws at the other end. Cariaso then sealed the outcome of the match with a daredevil drive to ice the game, 87-81, with just 38.2 seconds left. Espinas converted two free throws to peg the score at 87-83 before Fonacier and Cariaso finalized the count on a pair of charity splits.

The Barakos found a gem of a rookie in Larry Rodriguez who scored a game-high 19 points and grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds. Miller led the Aces with 13 points. Reynel Hugnatan grabbed the most rebounds for the Aces with 11.

Both teams struggled on the creaky floor and poor lighting of the old JCSGO gym with the Aces turning the ball over 19 times and the Barakos not far behind with 18 turnovers.

The Aces seemed on their way to an easy lopsided victory when John Ferriols drilled an open jumper to cap a 7-0 run which hiked the Alaska lead to a fat 18 points, 71-53, late in the third period.

But the Aces relaxed too soon allowing the Barakos to come clawing back into the game behind the heroics of Rodriguez.

Alaska 89
Miller 13, Hugnatan 12, Tenorio 11, Devance 10, Ferriols 10, Dela Cruz 9, Fonacier 9, Thoss 6, Cariaso 6, Borboran 3

Red Bull 83
Rodriguez 19, Baguio 18, Espinas 13, Sharma 10, Duncil 7, Cruz 6, Chan 5, Najorda 4, Hubalde 1, Alvarez 0, Hrabak 0, Ybanez 0.

23-11; 45-29; 71-59; 89-83