ALASKA’S Vic Manuel (left) and Cyrus Baguio sandwich a driving Jireh Ibañes of Rain or Shine in Game 3 of their semifinal duel. The two teams were still playing at presstime. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
MANILA, Philippines–Keeping their emotions in check and focusing on the task at hand, the Alaska Aces on Tuesday night led from start to finish and routed Rain or Shine, 104-94, at Smart Araneta Coliseum to move within another victory of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals.
Henry Walker didn’t have any emotional outbursts until after the game, and Gabby Espinas managed to stay in the game for a change as Alaska proved too good in this game for the Elasto Painters for a 2-1 lead in their best-of-five Final Four series.
Game 4, the potential clincher for the Aces, is set Wednesday night, also at the Big Dome in Cubao.
Walker drilled in 26 points that went with 13 rebounds and three assists, striking hardest in the fourth period when the Painters doggedly tried to come back from deficits of as large as 15 points.
The winner of this series will advance to a best-of-five championship showdown with the survivor of the Talk ‘N Text-San Mig Coffee series, which the Mixers will try to wrap up today at 8 p.m.
“I’m glad that we won, but anybody who knows the PBA knows that this series is not yet over,” said rookie Alaska coach Alex Compton, who has two shots at the clincher. “This victory would mean nothing if we don’t win another game.”
Five locals led by the 14 of Calvin Abueva contributed twin digits for the Aces, who won the series opener in come-from-behind style, 97-93, before dropping Game 2 ugly, 87-99.
The Aces were all business right from the get-go, playing with sustained brilliance all night before a five-point swing near the end of the first half gave them command they never lost the rest of the way.
Two triples by Dondon Hontiveros that sandwiched a three-point play by Gabby Espinas late in the third period had Alaska zooming to a 72-60 lead. Rain or Shine would never come closer than seven until the final buzzer.
Meanwhile, San Mig Coffee will exhaust the second of three chances it has to see Talk ‘N Text off and take another step closer a cherished shot at a Grand Slam.
Stalled in a one-sided way on Monday night with an 112-86 loss where they trailed by as many as 28 points, the Mixers try to regain their wits.
Talk ‘N Text coach Norman Black was able to dodge a series sweep when he went all-in for the first time in the series and caught the Mixers unawares. He knows that counterpart Tim Cone could be up to the challenge this time.
THE SCORES:
ALASKA 104—Walker 26, Abueva 14, Espinas 12, Hontiveros 11, Thoss 11, Manuel 11, Casio 7, Dela Cruz 6, Baguio 4, Jazul 2.
RAIN OR SHINE 94—Chan 22, Reid 17, Arana 10, Almazan 10, Ibanes 10, Lee 10, Belga 5, Tiu 5, Teng 3, Rodriguez 2, Uyloan 0, Cruz 0.
Quarters: 29-23, 53-46, 78-66, 104-94