Coca-Cola up next for Alaska
The Alaska Aces continue their quest for their fourth All-Filipino title (and thirteenth title overall) when they meet the Coca-Cola Tigers at 5 p.m. on Saturday in the PBA Philippine Cup game in Victorias City, Negros Occidental.
The Aces will be looking to follow up their impressive 85-84 victory over the San Miguel Beermen last Sunday and gain a share of the lead with the league-leading Talk N Text Tropang Texters, who have tallied two straight victories.
Willier Miller - who outscored, outrebounded and tallied more assists than any other player of either team to power the Aces to the scrambling victory - will again be expected to lead the Alaska attack.
Miller scored 17 points, grabbed eight rebounds and issued eight assists to lead the Aces to the come-from-behind victory over San Miguel last Sunday.
The Aces showed their resiliency against the Beermen when they came back from a fat 19-point deficit, 23-42, with 7:24 to go in the second period.
Faced with daunting odds the Aces did not waver and clawed their way back into the game. Reynel Hugnatan missed a jumper but John Ferriols was around to grab the rebound and convert the follow up shot to cut the San Miguel Beer lead to only nine points at halftime, 39-48.
Alaska coach Tim Cone said he was looking forward to a better game from prized recruit Joe Devance who had a measly two points in his debut game against San Miguel.
We expect better things from Joe (Devance), said the Alaska coach. He was probably a bit nervous in playing in his first regular season game against San Miguel. But he will get better. He will continue to get his minutes and he can only improve with time.
The Aces are also expected to get significant contributions from Tony Dela Cruz and veteran Jeff Cariaso.
Dela Cruz, who struggled early in the game against San Miguel scoring only four points in the first three quarters, waxed hot in the payoff fourth period shredding the net as he converted one open shot after another. He scored 11 points in the fourth period alone to finish with 15 points.
Cariaso and Larry Fonacier scored back-to-back triples to finally push the Aces ahead for good 65-63 at the start of the fourth period.
The Boss Sonny Thoss, whose lip was split open by an errant elbow by Wesley Gonzales, will be back 100 percent ready to play according to Alaska trainer Gus Vargas.
It was not a big wound, said Vargas. It did not even require stitches. We just taped his chin and lower lip tightly. A bandage would have caused more scarring. It was not necessary so we did not stitch him up.
