Depleted Aces buck Standhardinger’s 37-16 explosion

MANILA,Philippines — They may be short in manpower pending the approval of a trade but the quarterfinals-chasing Alaska Aces showed there’s more than enough fight in them as they scored a crucial 106-99 victory over NorthPort in the PBA Governors’ Cup last night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

With Chris Banchero shipped to Magnolia and targetted acquisitions Rodney Brondial and Rob Herndon not yet on board, the Aces leaned on an assortment of heroes in notching their second consecutive win for a 3-6 overall mark and within a breath of the eighth-running Batang Pier (3-5).

Franko House (with 23 points, 11 rebounds and five assists), Vic Manuel (23-10), Abu Tratter (17-9), and Jeron Teng (13-5-4) took the cudgels as the Aces triumphed despite sitting out Banchero while awaiting the PBA’s greenlight on the swap with Magnolia.

The Aces spoiled the career high 37 markers plus 16 boards and five assists of Christian Standhardinger for NorthPort, which is playing minus ace freshman Robert Bolick for the rest of this campaign.

“What was nice about how the guys performed tonight was even if the opponents were rallying, they were fighting, executing and getting good shots. I think that’s a testament to (them) understanding better how I’d like them to play,” said Aces coach Jeff Cariaso, whose wards showed vast improvement after their 0-5 start.

Technically, the Aces could have played Banchero one last time but decided to keep him injury-free for his new team.

“It was requested by Magnolia and it’s something we readily granted, taking into consideration the risk of injury. We want the trade to push through and we don’t want o give them an injured player,” said Cariaso.

The first-year Alaska mentor expressed belief Herndon and Brondial would be a good fit to his system.

Notes: The PBA Commissioner’s Office approved the Alaska-Magnolia trade Sunday night while also giving the greenlight to the swap between TNT KaTropa and Blackwater. As such, Elite rookie Ray Parks officially joined the KaTropa while former TNT players Don Trollano and Anthony Semerad plus TNT’s 2021 first-round pick headed to Blackwater.