Alaska hammers M. Lhuillier completes 3-game sweep to rule PBA pre-season tilt

CEBU, Philippines - After vanquishing fellow PBA contenders San Mig Coffee Mixers and the Talk 'N Txt Tropang Texters, the Alaska Aces hammered the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños, 76-65, to complete a three-game sweep of the 2012 Mayor Mike Rama Cup PBA Pre-Season Games last night at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Aces used a crippling rally in the second quarter to turn the tables on M. Lhuillier and top the three-day tournament that serves as their final tuneup for the 38th PBA Season set to kick off on September 30 at the Araneta Coliseum.

"I'm proud of the way we came here. We took care of business," said Alaska head coach Luigi Trillo in a post-game interview. "It's always nice to come to Cebu. I have a lot of respect for Cebu basketball. For us this is a great foundation to start this new season."

The Aces trailed by six points, 17-23, when they suddenly came to life, unleashing a fierce 18-0 attack to change the course of the match in their favor, 35-23, with 1:40 left before halftime. They held M. Lhuillier scoreless for almost eight minutes in that game-tearing rally.

Mark Magsumbol provided some offensive spark for M. Lhuillier when he scored seven straight points to start the third period and pull his side within just five points, 32-37, but the Aces charged back with finesse to establish their biggest lead of 15 points, 49-34, with 6:38 left in that stretch.

The Aces maintained double-digit leads from there onwards. The best M. Lhuillier could muster was to whittle the deficit down to four, 58-62, on a 3-point bomb by Stephen Padilla as Alaska replied with a 10-1 bang to put the game beyond reach, 72-59, courtesy of the only basket by Cebuano hotshot Dondon Hontiveros entering the last two-minute zone of the contest.

Tony de la Cruz paced Alaska with 13 points followed by Cyrus Baguio with 10. Magsumbol and Abby Santos led M. Lhuillier with a dozen markers apiece. (FREEMAN)