Sunday, October 19, 2008 · News

news

Some things never change.

The Alaska Aces continued their mastery of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters by posting a convincing 91-84 victory in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum to stay on top of the standings with four straight victories.

It was the ninth straight victory of the Aces over the Elasto Painters in three years and spanning seven PBA conferences. But the victory was not as easy as before. The Aces needed to lean on the heroics of Willie Miller to turn back the determined challenge of the Elasto Painters.

We have the best closer in the league in Willie Miller. He makes the big shots and closes a team out. That is what we do. We keep it close and obviously in the end, it is going to be Miller time, said Alaska coach Tim Cone.

Miller finished with a double-double, scoring a game-high 21 points and grabbing 10 rebounds to earn his second consecutive Player of the Game honors. He was also the Player of the Game when he led the Aces past the Red Bull Barakos last Thursday.

Willie works so hard to be the best. People just see the playful side of Willie. They see him always goofing off. They do not realize how hard he works. He is the hardest working player at practice. He works on his shots. He works in his conditioning. He works to get the plays right, said Cone.

Miller also issued two assists and tallied two steals in yet another brilliant all-around game.

With the score tied at 78-all a cutting Miller received a pass inside the shaded area to convert a lightning quick layup which he completed while barely jumping off the floor to push Alaska ahead, 80-78, with 3:19 left in the game.

With 2:32 to go, Miller received the ball, backed up against Sol Mercado then sank a left-handed fadeaway jumpshot to hike the Alaska lead to four points, 82-78, with 2:32 to go.

Miller finally put the dagger into the hearts of the Elasto Painters when he drained a triple at the 1:59 mark to seal the outcome of the match, 85-78.

Rob Wainwright made things interesting with back-to-back triples against a field goal by Reynel Hugnatan, 87-84, with still 42 seconds left. But Hugnatan himself doused cold water on the rally of Rain or Shine when he followed up a miss by Miller, 89-84, for Alaska.

LA Tenorio finalized the count on a pair of free throws.

The Aces remained the only unbeaten team this conference after the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings bowed to the Red Bull Barakos later in the evening.

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

The Aces outrebounded the Elasto Painters 60-45 with Joe Devance grabbing the most boards with 12.

The Aces also had more assists than the Elasto Painters, 22-12. LA Tenorio had the most assists for either team with seven assists while Jeff Cariaso had four assists.

The scores:

Alaska 91 - Miller 21, Tenorio 18, Dela Cruz 13, Hugnatan 10, Cariaso 9, De Vance 7, Thoss 5, Ferriols 4, Fonacier 2, Sotto 2, Borboran 0.

Rain or Shine 84 - Reyes 16, Wainwright 14, Norwood 12, Tang 11, Mercado 8, Isip 7, Laure 5, Arana 4, Salangsang 3, Andaya 2, Ibanes 2.

Quarterscores: 25-20, 52-39, 74-58, 91-84.