MANILA, Philippines - Alaska Milk, resolute and efficient throughout, hurdled NLEX, 100-85, last night to highlight a key four-win closing run in the eliminations that propelled the Aces to an outright quarterfinals entry in the PBA Governors Cup at the MOA Arena.
The Aces opened a 15-point lead on a decisive closing romp in the first half and sustained a rock solid effort through the last two quarters to roll past the Road Warriors and secure a joint fourth-place finish with the Meralco Bolts and the Mahindra Enforcers at 6-5.
With an inferior quotient, Alaska, however, settled for sixth spot behind TNT KaTropa (9-1), Barangay Ginebra (8-2), San Miguel Beer (7-3), Meralco and Mahindra.
The Texters and the Gin Kings dispute playoffs top seeding in a virtual knockout match at the Alonte Sports Center in Biñan, Laguna tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the Bolts and the Enforcers figure in a playoff match Wednesday at the Big Dome, slugging it out for fourth spot and the twice-to-beat reward in the quarters.
With the loss, the NLEX Road Warriors ended up with a 5-6 elims record, going into the playoffs as the No. 7 seed.
“We got up by 15 at the half, but in a lot of games, NLEX’s been down but they’re able to come back. I appreciate the heart of the guys. I appreciate them continuing to defend,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton.
Alaska starters LaDontae Henton, RJ Jazul, Calvin Abueva, Sonny Thoss and Kevin Racal outperformed their NLEX counterparts and led the Aces to their fifth win in their last six games – a big turnaround from their scrambling 1-4 start in the season-ending tourney.
Henton topscored with 27 points while Abueva and Thoss both churned out double-double numbers with the former logging 11 rebounds and 10 points and the latter piling up 10 markers and the same number of caroms.
Jazul fired away 14 points while comebacking forward Vic Manuel saw action in just a little over 12 minutes off the bench and produced 13 markers and three rebounds against two turnovers.
Walker, up against his original PBA team, led the losing team with 29 points, 10 rebounds and three assists.
Later in the night, Rain or Shine clobbered Star, 108-97, to salvage a playoff for the last quarters slot with Phoenix Petroleum.
The E-Painters caught up with the NLEX Road Warriors and the Fuel Masters at 5-6. Upon the application of the quotient tiebreaking system, NLEX (plus 8) automatically gained the playoff No. 7 seed, leaving ROS (plus 5) and Phoenix (minus 13) to dispute the last quarters berth in a do-or-die setto.
The scores:
First Game
ALASKA 100 – Henton 27, Jazul 14, Manuel 13, Thoss 10, Abueva 10, , Casio 7, Racal 6, Banchero 3, Exciminiano 3, Hontiveros 3, Baclao 2, Dela Rosa 2, Magat 0, Dela Cruz 0, Galliguez 0.
NLEX 85 – Walker 29, Taulava 14, Anthony 11, Khobuntin 10, Villanueva E. 9, Villanueva J. 4, Akl 3, Arboleda 3, Baracael 2, Alas 0, Camson 0, Monfort 0, Reyes 0, Soyud 0, Lanete 0.
Quarterscores: 24-19, 52-37, 75-64, 100-85
Second Game
RAIN OR SHINE 108 – Dollard 27, Belga 14, Lee 11, Quiñahan 10, Chan 9, Cruz 8, Almazan 8, Norwood 8, Ahanmisi 6, Ponferada 4, Tiu 3, Trollano 0.
STAR 97 – Wright 27, Simon 15, Sangalang 12, Maliksi 9, Melton 8, Pascual 8, Mallari 6, Garcia 6, Brondial 6, Reavis 0, Barroca 0, Gaco 0.
Quarterscores: 28-26; 54-41; 80-66; 108-97