Aces torch Hotshots, check skid

MANILA, Philippines - The Alaska Aces kept a perfect record versus the Star Hotshots in their last seven face-offs, fashioning out a wire-to-wire 85-69 win in their Petron Blaze road showdown in Panabo City last night to move up to joint eighth at the halfway mark of the PBA Governors Cup elimination round.

 The Aces came through with decisive runs in the second and in the last quarters versus the badly struggling Star side and snapped a three-game losing skein to catch up with the Globalport Batang Pier and the Phoenix Fuel Masters at 2-4.

LaDontae Henton, Calvin Abueva and Sonny Thoss made the biggest damage as they sent the Hotshots to their worst six-game start in import-laden conferences in 25 years.

At the midpoint of the one-round-robin elims, coach Jason Webb and his troops have only a win to show in six games.

To salvage a berth in the playoffs, the Hotshots have to make a turnaround and do good in their last five games against the Barangay Ginebra Kings, the Phoenix Fuel Masters, the Meralco Bolts, the TNT KaTropa Texters and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra and Mahindra, at joint second place with San Miguel Beer at 4-2, try push their playoff aspirations in tangling with Rain or Shine and Blackwater, respectively, tonight at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Enforcers and the Elite clash at 4:30 p.m. then the Gin Kings and the Elasto Painters collide at 6:45 p.m. Before the Ginebra-ROS tiff, the PBA honors the late legendary coach Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan, offering him a memorial final buzzer. Atoy Co, Allan Caidic and Alvin Patrimonio, among the celebrated players “The Maestro” had handled in the pro league, will grace the rites.

“I’m honored and excited that the Baby Dalupan tribute will be before our game, and I would love to dedicate a win for him,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone. “But as we all know, nothing comes easy with ROS. We’ll have to be at the top of our game to get a win for coach Baby.”

Henton delivered 27 points, including two clutch treys in the last three minutes, while Abueva and Thoss combined for 18 markers and 20 rebounds to lead the Aces to their second win following a 105-102 escape victory over Globalport on July 24.