Alaska Aces make impeccable return to all-Pinoy finals

MANILA, Philippines – Alaska Milk sustained a mighty, dominant run through a fourth straight game, fashioning out a bristling 118-89 victory to claim the first berth in the Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

As in their previous triumphs, the Aces played tough for 48 minutes and simply outclassed the Batang Pier with their superb all-around game to secure a third finals appearance in the last four conferences and 29th in all in franchise history.

It was a momentous night for Alaska, which booked a trip back to the finals while moving up to No. 2 overall in league ladder for most all-time wins.

Chris Exciminiano, Chris Banchero, Calvin Abueva, Sonny Thoss, Cyrus Baguio and Vic Manuel churned out double-digit outputs to lead Alaska to an 892nd win since joining the league in 1986. Alaska moved past Barangay Ginebra (891), now only trailing San Miguel Beer (1,211).

But for team owner Wilfred Uytengsu, the Aces amazing ride would be more meaningful if they go all the way to win the league’s most prestigious championship.

“It’s the most special championship to win. We would like nothing more but to win it,” said Uytengsu, hoping his team ends a 16-year title drought in the all-Filipino tourney.

“Either way, it’s gonna be hard. To be the best, you have to beat the best,” Uytengsu also said, expecting slambang showdown with either San Miguel Beer or Rain or Shine.

It could be a repeat of the Philippine Cup finals last year with the Beermen or a first-ever championship showdown with the Elasto Painters.

With their choking defense, brilliant transition plays and fluid half-court set, the Aces set the pace all throughout on the way to completing a 4-1 romp in the best-of-seven semis series.

Alaska earned a first back-to-back all-Filipino finals since 1995 and 1996. The Aces pursue a first Philippine Cup plum in 16 years and a first crown in any conference since their title run in the 2013 Commissioner’s Cup under coach Luigi Trillo.

With only Terrence Romeo, Stanley Pringle and Jay Washington delivering, the Batang Pier hardly got into the game and eventually saw the end of their first-ever Final Four stint.

Alaska stamped its class on Globalport, pounding the Batang Pier in the next four games after a stinging 93-107 loss in Game One.

The Aces bounced back in Game Two, 100-76, and went on a roll with equally convincing 82-69 triumph in Game Three and a 109-84 victory in Game Four.

“I thought we did a lot of good things in the first half,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton in setting the mode of the contest early.

With hardly any difference from the previous games, Alaska second group overwhelmed its Globalport counterpart, 33-3, as the Aces led by nine, 60-51, at the turn.

The Aces spread their production to gobble up the 39-point combined output of Romeo, Washington and Pringle in the first half.

The three Globalport lead guns scored all but two of the Batang Pier’s 34 points in the second period. Pringle had eight in the quarter, including a short stab at the buzzer.

Exciminiano scored a career-high 19 markers to pace the Aces. He also had a solid job on the other end of the floor on former FEU teammate Romeo.