Bolts-Aces ‘rubber’: Lights out or bust

MANILA, Philippines – Alaska and Meralco duel one last time for the second finals berth in the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup, each side driven by motivation – the Aces chasing a third straight championship appearance and the Bolts so close at earning a first-ever crack at a PBA crown.

Gametime is at 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with the Aces hoping to bank on their experience to bounce back from a Game Four blowout and the Bolts out to ride the momentum of their emphatic 86-70 rout that set up this Game Five faceoff.

It’s one final game that could boil down to desire and determination with the winner staying in the title hunt against first finals qualifier Rain Or Shine.

Going to the no-tomorrow match, Meralco is pumped up by its rout of Alaska in Game Four Monday night.

It’s the first time that the Bolts have come this far, and coach Norman Black said they’re giving everything they’ve got to reach the finale.

Alaska coach Alex Compton said they can’t afford to play the same way they did Monday night.

“I tell you, if we play this way, and they play this way, they’re (the Bolts) going to the finals,” said Compton.

“We shot terrible. And the reason why we shot poor was we’re taking the wrong shots,” he added. “The way we played on offense is never been anything I’ve ever emphasized. It’s never what we’ve taught and it’s never what we’ve done.”

The Aces, however, is definitely capable to make a comeback and play big in the biggest moments of the game. They have survived two knockout games in the tourney, fighting back from 0-1 down to beat Tropang TNT in their best-of-three quarterfinals showdown.

If they survive another do-or-die tiff, the Aces arrange with the E-Painters the first PBA finals in 16 years without a team from San Miguel Corp. and the MVP Group.

But whichever team wins set a first PBA matchup – Rain Or Shine versus Alaska Or Rain or Shine opposite Meralco.

The Elasto Painters have been to five previous finales, tangling with the BMEG/San Mig Coffee and Talk N Text.

Compton insists they’ve got to raise the level of their game. “I’m proud we’ve got this far, but I don’t thing playing the way we did (Monday) will get us where we want to go,” he said.

After Alaska held Meralco to its lowest output in the conference in Game Two, 92-72, the Bolts returned the favor Monday, holding the Aces to their lowest production in a game in the last four conferences.

While the Bolts hit a good rhythm from the third period, the Aces struggled all throughout, converting only 33 percent of their shots.

Rob Dozier was the lone bright spot for the Aces, getting away with 18 points and 15 rebounds. Calvin Abueva, the team’s top energy source, came up with only 10 markers and four boards.

Arinze Onuaku and his teammates endured a tough defensive battle in the first half before seizing the moment late in the third period and sustaining the momentum to the very end.