Aces buck slow start, stop E-Painters in Game 1

MANILA, Philippines -- Alaska Milk, a team taking pride in being a defensive bunch, came up with a good defensive effort, stopping Rain or Shine cold in the crunch as the Aces hacked out a come-from-behind 87-80 win in the opener of their PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinal showdown at the Mall of Asia Arena Thursday night.

The Aces put the brake on the Elasto Painters on several instances, the most crucial with their great hustles in the last five minutes, holding Rain or Shine to a single field-goal basket.

On the offensive end over the same stretch, Calvin Abueva, Jvee Casio, Cyrus Baguio and Chris Exciminiano came through, giving Alaska a fiery 14-3 windup and subsequently the crucial head start in the race-to-four-games series.

Looking for a first finals appearance in five conferences, the Aces push their bid, going for a 2-0 series lead on Saturday in the same Pasay City playing venue.

Meanwhile, playoffs top seed San Miguel Beer and Talk n Text, a team on a hot rampage from the closing stage of the elims, start their own semis battle at 7 p.m. Friday night.

“I thought early on Rain or Shine exerted their will, and we got a little frustrated. But in the second half, we put the frustration aside and played the game,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton.

“The win means we can beat them,” added Compton who suffered the biggest losses in his young coaching career at the hands of Rain or Shine.

For a while, Rain or Shine, which beat Alaska by 51 points in the elims in the last Governors Cup, appeared headed for another big demolition of the Aces by opening a 17-point spread early in the second quarter.

But the Aces showed a great character, fighting to within three, at 40-43, at the half; seizing the upper hand, 57-53, on an eight-to-nothing roll in the third, and going for the kill in the homestretch.

“I’m proud of the guys they weathered the storm. The guys didn’t stop playing hard,” said Compton.

Sonny Thoss put in a personal conference high of 16 points on top of nine rebounds, and reserves RJ Jazul and Exciminiano also outdid themselves, chipping in 12 and six markers, respectively.

Casio, Abueva and Baguio played their usual roles, with each one providing Alaska the needed push at winning time.

Casio shared game scoring honors with Thoss with 16, Abueva churned out yet another double-double game with 14 points and the same number of rebounds while Baguio logged in seven markers, nine boards, two assists and two steals.

The whole team didn’t quit, overcoming the 17-point deficit at 17-34.

After losing the lead in the third period, Rain or Shine actually came through with another stirring assault, regaining control in the fourth quarter.

The E-Painters were still ahead at 77-73 before the Aces choked them with a defensive blanket in the last five minutes.
  
Rain or Shine dominated the first 24 minutes as the E-Painters pummeled the Aces, 28-17, on points in the paint and, 14-6, off fastbreaks.

The Aces made it close at the turn as they cashed in on crucial stops, forcing the usually steady E-Painters to 10 turnovers just in the first two quarters. RoS is second best in the league with just 13.5 errors a game.

NOTES: Cleveland Cavaliers coach David Blatt loves the Philippines, expressing this during the post-game interview after their win over the Charlotte Hornets Tuesday. “I love the Philippines. I’m glad to see that they did so well this year in the world championships. Great for them and the country,” said Blatt when NBA Philippines’ Rex Alba was to ask a question.