Despite a scare in the closing minutes, Alaska still showed poise to keep its winning run going.
The Aces regained sole possession of first place after recovering down the stretch against gutsy NLEX side en route to an 89-81 triumph and move closer to securing a berth in the next phase of the 2015 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
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Sonny Thoss had a solid double-double output to pace Alaska, scoring 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds while Vic Manuel and surprise package Rome Dela Rosa each scored 11 markers.
After squandering most of its 20-point second half lead, Alaska scored timely baskets and had enough left in the tank to secure the victory even as NLEX provided a courageous fightback in the fourth period that made a game out of it in the endgame.
This was the Aces’ third win in a row as they are now at 6-1, half a game ahead of San Miguel for first place. Another victory in their next game will secure for the Aces a seat in the quarterfinals.
Although he wasn’t quite satisfied with how his team closed out the game, Alaska coach Alex Compton was still happy with the victory and the defensive effort of his wards.
“I thought we were a little soft in the fourth and missed a lot of open shots. We needed a defensive mindset for this game and I thought we had it,’’ Compton said.
The Road Warriors saw their two-game winning streak snapped as they slipped into a fifth place tie with the vastly-improving Barangay Ginebra as they now share 4-3 marks.
It was all Alaska for the first three quarters as it gained control in the first and then coasted to a double-digit lead in the second period before establishing a gigantic 20-point bubble, 64-44, at the 3:11 mark of the third frame after a basket from Jvee Casio.
At that point, it seemed that the Aces were headed for a relatively easy finish especially after carrying a comfortable 68-52 spread heading into the final quarter.
But the stubborn Road Warriors, led by Sean Anthony who suddenly caught fire, rallied and uncorked a 12-2 run with under five minutes left to threaten as the 20-point Alaska lead turned into just four, 82-78, after back-to-back baskets from Enrico Villanueva that capped off the surge with under two minutes remaining.
But successive baskets from Jvee Casio and Cyrus Baguio put Alaska out of harm’s way as its lead was restored to a safer seven-point edge, 87-80, heading into the final minute.
Anthony scored a game-high 21 points, 17 of which in the fourth quarter alone as his exploits led NLEX’s comeback.
Games Today
( Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City)
3p.m.- Mahindra vs Meralco
5:15pm- San Miguel vs. Star