THE Alaska Aces started strong, lost a big 30-point lead then stepped on the gas again in the fourth period to post a decisive, 93-74, victory over the Blackwater Elite Sunday, April 29, 2018 in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Assocition Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Simon Enciso converted a free throw then a jumpshot. Vic Manuel likewise converted his own jumper plus the bonus free throw to give the Aces more breathing room as they extended their lead to 16 points, 78-62, with 7:52 to go in the fourth.
Manuel would then put the game away by scoring three consecutive baskets against a field goal by Mac Belo as the Aces hiked their lead to 20 points, 84-64, with 5:05 left to play.
Manuel was selected Best Player of the Game after scoring 27 points (on 13 of 18 shooting from the field) and three rebounds.
With the victory the Aces (1 win, 1 loss) climbed into a tie at fourth place with the Globalport Batang Pier (1-1), the Phoenix Fuelmasters (1-1) and the Meralco Bolts (1-1).
The TNT Katropa (2-0) lead the standings. They are followed by the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (1-0) and the Columbian Dyip (2-1).
Bringing up the rear are the NLEX Road Warriors (0-1) and the Elite (0-3). The San Miguel Beermen, the Magnolia Hotshots and Barangay Ginebra have not yet played this conference.
The Aces thus bounced back from an overtime 103-109 loss to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters last Friday.
Alaska Aces big man Marion Magat dribbled the length of the court, then relied on his lengthy frame to stretch into a layup past the blocking hands of Poy Erram to push Alaska to a 28-point lead, 47-19, with 3:44 left to play at the half.
Kevin Racal later converted a fastbreak layup as the Aces roared to their biggest lead at the half of 30 points, 49-19.
The Eite, starring import Jarrid Famous, outscored the Aces 10-7 the rest of the way to reduce the Alaska advantage to 25 points at halftime, 54-29.
Jarrid Famous posted Noy Baclao inside the paint then scored on a hook shot to lead the blazing Elite comeback early in the third period. The Elite outscored the Aces 21-8 to cut the Alaska lead to just 12 points, 62-50 with 5:15 to go in the third period.
The Elite continued chipping on Alaska lead with Roi Sumang scoring on a fastbreak layup followed by basket just underneath the goal by Poy Erram as the Elite cut the Alaska lead to just eight points, 62-54, with 2:22 to go in the third.
Noy Baclao and Jarrid Famous traded baskets before Manuel scored from a difficult angle to extend the Alaska lead to 10 points, 66-56, after three quarters.
Manuel continued to put up the points for Alaska in the third period. He scored on back-to-back baskets followed by two free throws by Simon Enciso as the Aces again extended their lead to 12 points, 72-60, with 10:15 to go in the fourth.
After two disappointing conferences, where they failed to advance to the playoffs, the Aces finally broke through and qualified to the quarterfinals of the 2018 PBA Philippine Cup. They hope to improve on that finish this conference.
