Aces force Kings to do-or-die; Painters in semis

GLOBALPORT forward Mark Yee sues for time after hitting the floor on a loose ball scramble. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

MANILA, Philippines – Calvin Abueva was as focused as he could be and Alaska was dialed in all game long Wednesday night as the Aces chopped down No. 1 Barangay Ginebra to size, 104-97, to forge a do-or-die game for a Final Four seat in the PLDT MyDSL Philippine Cup at Mall of Asia Arena.

Abueva scored 16 points, had 11 rebounds, four assists and three steals coming off the bench, firing up the Aces on both ends as he—quite unusual as it may seem—picked up just one foul in 23 minutes while being his usual aggressive self.

The rubber match is slated on Saturday at nearby Cuneta Astrodome, and Alaska can again sweep the Gin Kings the way it did in the Commissioner’s Cup Finals last season where Abueva—who eventually won the Rookie of the Year award—was a vital cog.

“Just nice to see him play so well. He’s had a very tough conference,” Alaska coach Luigi Trillo. “He’s motivated. I don’t want him satisfied. We need him to do the same thing for us on Saturday.”

Dondon Hontiveros and Cyrus Baguio scored 18 points each to pace the Aces.

Japeth Aguilar scored 22 points and had 12 rebounds, and Greg Slaughter had 12 and 14 in a Ginebra loss that overshadowed Rain or Shine’s march into the semifinals earlier in the night after a 106-96 triumph over Globalport.

Beau Belga hit the most crucial shot with the game on the line after Gabe Norwood had kept the Batang Pier at bay as Rain or Shine reached the Final Four where it will play the winner of the Petron Blaze-Barako Bull showdown.

The scores:

First Game

RAIN OR SHINE 106—Cruz 18, Belga 17, Rodriguez 16, Norwood 14, Araña 10, Lee 10, Quiñahan 5, Tang 5, Almazan 4, Tiu 3, Nuyles 2, Teng 2, Ibanes 0.

GLOBALPORT 96—Romeo 23, Nabong 18, Mercado 16, Yee 7, Menk 7, Hayes 6, Salvador 6, Lingganay 5, Chua 4, Ponferada 4, Belencion 0, Salva 0, Garcia 0.

Quarters: 35-29; 60-52; 86-77; 106-96

Second Game

ALASKA 104—Hontiveros 18, Baguio 18, Casio 16, Abueva 16, Thoss 13, Espinas 12, Jazul 10, Eman 1, Belasco 0, Dela Cruz 0, Exciminiano 0.

GINEBRA 97—Aguilar 22, Tenorio 16, Caguioa 15, Urbiztondo 13, Slaughter 12, Helterbrand 9, Ellis 4, Reyes 4, Baracael 2, Ababou 0, Monfort 0.

Quarters: 23-20; 55-51; 80-71; 104-97