Aces come back to trounce Energy; E-Painters win 4th straight
By Ivan Stewart Saldajeno
Q[/dropcap]uezon City–The Alaska Aces fought back from a huge halftime deficit to hand the Barako Bull Energy their first losing skid after a 101-95 win in a rare Saturday Metro Manila game of the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Down 40-62 at the half, Alaska slowly chipped the lead and came to within one, 70-71, with 2:11 left in the third quarter.
Barako slightly stretched its lead to seven, 81-74, early in the fourth quarter, but a 21-5 Alaska run gave the team the edge, 95-86, with under three minutes remaining in the game.
Joseph Yeo and R.R. Garcia tried to keep the Energy in the game after teaming up for an 8-0 run to cut the lead to one, 95-94, with less than two minutes left.
Jvee Casio, however, buried the dagger triple with 1:24 to go as the opposing side failed to convert on three-point tries in the end.
Romeo Travis led the Aces with 23 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block, while Chris Banchero added 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and a steal off the bench.
Liam McMorrow finished with 26 points, 15 rebounds, two assists, three steals, and a block for the Energy.
In the nightcap, Rain Or Shine hurdled from a not-so-good first quarter to blast Star, 103-88
The Hotshots took an early lead and controlled the entire first 12 minutes, but the Elasto Painters rallied in the next period to take the lead for good.
Wendell McKines had 28 points, 14 rebounds, and a steal for Rain Or Shine, which has now won four straight games.
Marc Pingris, on the other hand, tallied a conference-high 25 markers along with four rebounds and four assists for Star.
Box Scores:
First Game
Alaska 101-Travis 23, Banchero 20, Abueva 16, Jazul 11, Dela Rosa 9, Casio 8, Manuel 6, Baguio 4, Exciminiano 4, Thoss 0, Baclao 0, Hontiveros 0, Eman 0, Menk 0, Dela Cruz 0
Barako Bull 95-McMorrow 26, Garcia 19, Yeo 18, Lanete 18, Intal 10, Wilson 2, Ababou 2, Hubalde 0, Pascual 0, Maierhofer 0
Quarterscores: 17-32, 40-62, 72-78, 101-95
Second Game
Rain Or Shine 103-McKines 28, Chan 16, Lee 13, Jerv. Cruz 10, Arana 9, Almazan 8, Uyloan 6, Norwood 6, Ibanes 5, Belga 2, Jeri. Cruz 0
Star 88 – Pingris 25, Devance 15, Blakely 13, Barroca 12, Mallari 9, Yap 6, Melton 4, Reavis 3, Simon 1, Taha 0, Pennisi 0
Quarterscores: 22-25, 49-44, 76-63, 103-88
