Aces burn Boosters, keep No. 1 spot
Rodney White of Petron breaks the defensive team of Alaska’s Robert Dozier, Calvin Abueva and Gabby Espinas on Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum at the PBA Commissioners Cup. PBA IMAGES/Nuki Sabio
Alaska got 32 points and 18 rebounds from Robert Dozier in a 92-84 victory over Petron at Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night to creep closer to a top two spot in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs.
The Aces held the Boosters to 13 second quarter points to gain command, never letting up the rest of the way for their second victory in as many collisions with Petron in this tournament. Alaska is actually 3-0 for the season against one of the league’s most solid teams on paper.
More importantly, the win upped Alaska’s record to a league-best 8-3, just two wins shy of the hypothetical number that would clinch a top two slot and a twice-to-beat advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
“I feel we’ve been playing good basketball,” Alaska coach Luigi Trillo said even as he emphasized that Dozier is here to stay even with the arrival of Adam Parada, the 7-foot behemoth who reinforced the Aces last season.
“It (No. 1) is there for us, and we control our destiny,” Trillo said. “It’s got to be one game at a time for us.”
Meanwhile, Mac Cardona ended a two-game funk and powered Meralco to a 103-92 victory over Globalport in the first game.
Cardona, who shot a combined for 2-of-15 shooting from the field in Meralco’s last two games, had 30 points to help the Bolts to a 5-5 card.
In other news, former Rain or Shine reinforcement Jamelle Cornley was detained at the Quezon City Station 10 for allegedly knocking a cop out cold in a motel room.
The incident came about after Cornley reportedly lost cash amounting to $1,400 to three prostitutes, and the police officer who got knocked out, PO2 Anselmo Lazatin, was one of the officers who responded to the call.
“If the allegations and charges in this incident are proven to be true, I see Mr. Cornley as having zero chance of playing in the PBA again, at least not under my watch,” commissioner Chito Salud said in a statement.
The scores:
First Game
MERALCO 103—Dawson 37, Cardona 30, Hodge 11, Timberlake 10, Salvacion 5, Reyes 4, Hugnatan 4, Vanlandingham 2, Ross 0, Buenafe 0.
GLOBALPORT 92—David 29, Morgan 22, Mercado 11, Yee 10, Miller 7, Aguilar 5, Mandani 4, Salvador 2, Antonio 2, Belencion 0, Aljamal 0.
Quarters: 21-19, 48-41, 71-65, 103-92
Second Game
ALASKA 92—Dozier 32, Reyes 11, Baguio 11, Hontiveros 11, Abueva 6, Dela Cruz 6, Jazul 5, Espinas 5, Belasco 5, Eman 0.
PETRON 84—Petron 24, Washington 22, Cabagnot 11, Fajardo 10, Miranda 8, Santos 7, White 2, Lanete 0, Tubid 0, Peña 0.
Quarters: 19-23, 40-36, 71-65, 92-84
