Aces end slump, foil Bolts in OT

Games today(MOA Arena)

4:30 p.m. – Blackwater vs Rain or Shine (Game 1 Quarterfinals)

6:45 p.m. – Ginebra vs Magnolia (Game 1 Quarterfinals)

The Alaska Aces ended an agonizing five-game, 40-day drought with a 108-103 overtime verdict over the Meralco Bolts, emerging as the eighth and last entry in the quarterfinals of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night at the MOA Arena.

The Aces, whose last win was a 93-89 verdict over the same Bolts team back on June 9, hit the big shots down the stretch of the nerve-wracking playoff to escape with the emotional Last-8 clincher.

But celebration for the morale-boosting win was tempered considering what lies ahead in the Last-8 – top-seeded and twice-to-beat TNT KaTropa.

“When you lost five straight games and went through the struggles as we did, and play a knockout game for eighth place to play TNT and Terrence Jones and a twice to beat team, you wouldn’t think you’ll feel as good as I do right now,” said a relieved Alaska coach Alex Compton.

“We were joking about this as the championship game and after the heart the guys showed and the big plays they made, it does feel like a championship win. It’s obviously not but just the emotion of struggling through five games, it’s just a nice feeling,” he added.

The Aces faced a 91-95 deficit in the last 20.7 mark of the fourth but battled their way through to force the Bolts into overtime. Chris Banchero fired an airball but JVee Casio got the rebound and sent it back to Banchero, who made good from beyond the arc this time. Chris Newsome made it 96-94 with his split but Banchero netted a gutsy fade way jumper to knot the count.

Vic Manuel, Jeron Teng and Casio delivered in extra time as the Aces sealed the deal.

“So many guys made the big plays, we had six guys who finished in double figures an I’m so proud of them,” said Compton.

Manuel topscored with 23.

The scores:

Alaska 108 – Manuel 23, Simpson 20, Banchero 15, Casio 14, Enciso 13, Teng 12, Thoss 5, Racal 2, Pascual 2, Baclao 2. 

Meralco 103 – James 34, Newsome 20, Almazan 14, Amer 8, Quinto 7, Pinto 6, Hodge 4, Faundo 4, De Ocampo 3, Jackson 3, Salva 0.

Quarterscores: 26-28, 55-43, 68-66, 96-96, 108-103 (OT)