INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines?Alaska matched its 4-0 KFC-PBA Philippine Cup start last year by taking down Barangay Ginebra Sunday night, 105-96, after almost blowing a 20-point lead at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

Reynel Hugnatan and Willie Miller each scored seven points in the final period and Sonny Thoss had a crucial defensive gem in the last minute as the Aces stopped the rallying Gin Kings for the solo lead.

The loss was the first in four games for the undermanned Kings, who trailed, 40-60, late in the second period before coming alive in the third quarter to move within two going into the final stanza.

Talk ?N Text, getting 25 points from Mac Cardona, also remained perfect, breaking away from Sta. Lucia Realty in the third quarter for a 100-83 victory and a 3-0 card for solo second place.

The Realtors dropped to 2-1.

?I have this saying that I always tell the team: Just when you feel that the game is getting easy, it gets hard in a hurry,? Alaska coach Tim Cone, hoarse because of the cold, later said.

?We came out loosey-goosey in the second half and the game got really hard,? he continued. ?But we knew that no matter what happens, Ginebra was going to make a run at it. That?s how good they are.?

Informed that they also had a 4-0 start last year before losing their fifth game, Cone said he will use it to motivate his squad.

Alaska gets a 10-day break starting Monday and won?t be back on the court until Nov. 4 when they clash with an equally hot Sta. Lucia side.

Five players scored in twin digits for Alaska, with Hugnatan leading the way with 22 and Tony Dela Cruz shooting 16. LA Tenorio had 15, Miller finished with 11 and Joe Devance chipping in 10.

Both teams started out hot with Alaska closing out the first period with a 32-26 lead and the half with a 60-42 bulge.

One key play in the fourth quarter saw Alaska getting a three-point play by John Ferriols off Billy Mamaril, which happened at the same time as a technical foul was slapped on Sunday Salvacion for elbowing Mark Borboron in the jockeying for rebound position.

A free throw by Jeffrey Cariaso on the technical made it a four-point play and gave the Aces an 88-80 lead with 10:21 to go which kept Ginebra at bay.

Thoss? block on Rico Villanueva also led to two free throws by Hugnatan, who made it 105-95.

The scores:

ALASKA 105?Hugnatan 20, Dela Cruz 16, Tenorio 15, Miller 11, De Vance 10, Ferriols 9, Fonacier 8, Thoss 8, Borboran 5, Cariaso 5, Burtscher 0.

BARANGAY GINEBRA 96?Helterbrand 23, Tubid 22, Intal 13, Villanueva 11, Salvacion 8, Mamaril 7, Alavarez 6, Wilson 2, Cruz 2, Baguio 2.

Quarters: 32-26, 60-42, 82-80, 105-96

Second Game

TALK ?N TEXT 100?Cardona 25, Castro 16, Alapag 12, Belasco 12, Peek 11, Ritualo 8, De Ocampo R. 6, Carey 6, De Ocampo Y. 4, Escobal 0, Isip 0.

STA. LUCIA 83?Yeo 17, Omolon 17, Espinas 16, Reyes 11, Williams 9, Daa 6, Urbiztondo 5, Pacana 2, Waters 0, Larong 0, Misolas 0, Aquino 0.

Quarters: 22-18; 48-42; 76-62; 100-83