Aces ward off Bolts, forge finals showdown vs Painters

Game Friday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

7 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs Alaska

MANILA, Philippines – Alaska Milk battled Meralco practically all throughout before finding a crucial opening in the crunch, pounding the Bolts’ endgame meltdown for a 76-70 victory and the second berth in the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-seven finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Thursday night.

The Aces outplayed the Bolts at winning time, coming through with a lethal 10-3 closing run to nail a third straight finals and fourth title series in the last five conferences.

Rob Dozier, bucking five fouls, RJ Jazul and Calvin Abueva delivered the winning plays in the stretch as the Aces set a first-ever title showdown with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

 The two teams begin their championship faceoff at 7 p.m. Friday – a first title playoff in 16 years without a team from San Miguel Corp. and the MVP Group.

It’s also the first title showdown in 12 years without both the top seed and the second seed.

Abueva top scored with 19 points that went with eight rebounds and three assists, Dozier came through with double-double numbers with 18 boards and 14 markers while Chris Banchero contributed 18 points as they bounced back strong from a 70-86 blowout loss in Game Four.

 The Aces stretched their streak of championship appearances while surviving injuries to key players and no less than three do-or-die games in the post-elims plays.

“I’m relieved and I’m just proud of my guys,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton as they advanced to the championship minus Jvee Casio, Vic Manuel and Eric Menk.

“We could’ve used a lot of alibis – Meralco’s destiny, Meralco is tough, having a huge import, well-coached. But I’m really so proud of my guys. They stepped up and showed great resolve,” said Compton.

The Aces fought with guts and spunk for 48 minutes and pulled through as the Bolts faded out in the homestretch.

 The Bolts surged ahead, 67-66, entering the last three minutes but failed to hold on, throwing clunkers and committing dubious errors under gnawing pressure.

They terribly missed veteran playmaker Jimmy Alapag who hurt his left hand just four minutes into the KO match.

They committed two errors, missed one field goal and two free throws in a crucial dry spell in the last three minutes of the match. They ended their silence on a three-pointer by Jared Dillinger with only 12 ticks to go.

Baser Amer hit two clutch treys late in the second period as Meralco grabbed the lead, 39-37, at halftime.

Arinze Onuaku, Dillinger and Cliff Hodge canned in earlier baskets that helped the team wipe out a seven-point deficit at 28-35 -- the biggest margin in the tight first half marked by three dead locks and three lead changes

The close, fierce battle raged on in the next quarter with the Aces regaining the upper hand, 56-50, on efforts by Dozier, Banchero and Noy Baclao.

The Aces went on to carry that lead into the final quarter as Dillinger made a three-pointer that failed to beat the buzzer.

The Bolts, however, would wage another fightback, sneaking into the lead at 67-66 on a three-point play by Dillinger.

A crucial turn for the Bolts was sending Alaska into penalty situation just 48 seconds into the final quarter.

But the Aces survived.