Aces halt Gin Kings, punch quarterfinal ticket

MANILA, Philippines—With its defense holding for three quarters, Alaska dealt Barangay Ginebra a thorough beating, 79-66, Friday night to formally enter the quarterfinal round of the PBA Governors’ Cup at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

Holding the Gin Kings to just 25 points in the first half and 15 in the fourth period, the Aces won a second straight game since losing by a franchise-worst 51 points two weeks ago, climbing to 4-4 to earn an outside chance for a twice-to-beat incentive.

Alaska pulled out the win despite shooting just 39 percent from the field, a good sign, according to coach Alex Compton, since they were able to carve out a “character win that will serve us well in the future.”

Ginebra’s aspirations for that quarterfinal bonus were stalled and the Gin Kings, after falling to 5-3 and out of the lead, now have one chance remaining—against rock-solid Talk ‘N Text tomorrow night.

“I am really proud of our guys,” Compton said, referring to the fightback of his Aces, who blew an 11-point lead at halftime to trail by four midway through the third period. “They (Aces) kept playing strong and applied the pressure.”

Alaska allowed the Kings back in the game early in the third quarter when Ginebra came up with a 13-2 run to tie the game, a spurt made possible by five turnovers by the Aces in the first four minutes.

But Alaska regrouped and finished the third period on a strong note to take a 55-51 lead into the fourth which the Aces never lost.

Henry Walker paced the Aces with 16 points, and Calvin Abueva tossed in 14 points in a 19-minute stint coming off the bench, all but two of them coming in the final half.

Abueva, whose energy sometimes dictates where the Aces go, scored nine fourth-period points. Walker had eight in the same stretch and the duo actually outscored the Kings, 17-15, in the final 12 minutes.

With Ginebra’s defeat, Talk N’ Text got the prime slot with a 92-88 win over San Mig Coffee, even as Air21 guns for the same privilege Saturday when it battles San Miguel Beer at Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.

That game is slated at 5:15 p.m. after Meralco battles for survival against also-ran Globalport in the 2:45 p.m. contest.

A win by the Express would give them the second top four slot and leave the loser of last night’s second game, Rain or Shine and the Gin Kings to battle it out for the last two.

The scores:

First Game

ALASKA 79—Walker 16, Abueva 14, Espinas 13, Casio 8, Thoss 8, Manuel 8, Baguio 6, Jazul 5, Hontiveros 1, Reyes 0, Belasco 0, Dela Cruz 0.

GINEBRA 66—Mason 21, Caguioa 10, Slaughter 7, Baracael 6, Aguilar 6, Tenorio 4, Urbiztondo 3, Knuttel 2, Ababou 2, Helterbrand 2, Mamaril 2, Ellis 1, Monfort 0.

Quarters: 20-11, 36-25, 55-51, 79-66