Aces keep title bid alive, turn back Painters 86-78

Game Wednesday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

7 p.m. – Alaska vs Rain or Shine

MANILA, Philippines – Alaska Milk continued to battle with its strong points even on the exit of another key core player, clamping down even more on Rain or Shine in an 86-78 victory that cut down the E-Painters’ lead to 3-2 in the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday night.

Fired up by their 111-99 triumph in Game Five, the Aces pressed harder and held the E-Painters to their lowest output in a game in over a year.

Surviving a fifth do-or-die game in the post-elims play, the Aces now have a chance to set a winner-take-all match as the two teams resume their titular series Wednesday also at the Big Dome.

“It was another proud game for me and our guys,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton after they foiled Rain or Shine’s second shot at closing out the series.

“It doesn’t change my opinion of Rain or Shine. It just makes me proud of my guys the way we played defense,” Compton also said.

Calvin Abueva churned out another big game coming off the bench, producing game highs of 20 points and 13 rebounds as the Aces continued to amaze in pulling through in another KO setto.

Alaska has survived earlier do-or-die games in the quarterfinals and in the semifinals against Tropang TNT and Meralco.

The Aces lived to fight another game even as they lost another key playmaker in Chris Excimiano who’s hit by a knee injury.

Left without a single legitimate point guard, the Aces just battled with a pressing and attacking game all throughout to beat out the Elasto Painters in a gripping contest.

Rob Dozier came up with 14 points and eight rebounds, RJ Jazul got away with 13 markers, six rebounds and four assists, Dondon Hontiveros chipped in 12 points while Cyrus Baguio added 11 markers.

A crucial break for the Aces was Beau Belga fouling out with almost five minutes left to play.  Belga was taking charge for ROS before his exit as import Pierre Henderson-Niles had another poor game.

After Niles’ fifth turnover with 5:24 left to play, coach Yeng Guiao opted to play all-Filipino the rest of the way, but to no avail.

After a booming three-pointer by Paul Lee tied the count at 69, Hontiveros answered with a crucial three-point play, Abueva scored on a difficult undergoal shot then Jazul knocked in two charities as the Aces established control entering the last three minutes of the game.

Rain or Shine threatened for the last time at 76-80 on a triple by JR Quinahan before Alaska all but settled the outcome of the game on back-to-back twinners by Abueva.

Abueva, Hontiveros, Dozier and Jazul all played key roles in their 17-9 closing tear from a 69-all count.

 The Alaska coach, however, praised his guys more for their defensive effort.

The Aces held the E-Painters to their lowest output in a game since a 78-71 win over Purefoods/Star on a Valentine’s day match during the Commissioner’s Cup last year.

Jeff Chan nailed a charity while Jericho Cruz drained a jumper on back-to-back Alaska turnovers in the closing seconds as Rain or Shine led by three, 40-37, at the turn.

The Aces got off to an 11-2 start, prompting the Elasto Painters to call an early timeout before hitting their strides and racing ahead at 17-13.

Rain or Shine built some momentum midway through the third but blew it on a deliberate foul by Belga on Abueva who canned in both charities to light up a 10-2 run that shoved the Aces back in the lead at 54-53.

The two teams engaged in a fierce battle to the finish.