ALASKA forward Calvin Abueva manufactures a shot off Reil Cervantes of KIA Sorento in yesterday’s game at Cuneta Astrodome. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
MANILA, Philippines — Calvin Abueva worked extra hard for his second “20-20” and helped Alaska stay perfect after five games in the PBA Philippine Cup eliminations with an 85-75 decision of newcomer KIA Motors Tuesday night at Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay.
The league’s smallest power forward at just 6 feet 2, Abueva hit all of his 23 points in the final three quarters and plucked down a game-high 20 rebounds as the Aces survived an awful offensive night.
Abueva chalked up career-highs in points (26) and rebounds (22) in a 100-88 win over Talk ‘N Text last Oct. 28.
He is the first local with two 20-20s since Asi Taulava in 2007.
KIA lost for the fifth straight game after opening up with an 80-66 victory over fellow rookie team Blackwater in the inaugural game last Oct. 19, but the Sorento fought hard in this one against the best team in the league.
“They have a fighting heart,” Alaska coach Alex Compton said. “KIA played harder and pushed us to the limit. If we weren’t able to push turnovers, they would have easily beaten us.”
The Aces actually trailed, 11-18 at the end of the first period before the gung-ho Abueva buckled down to work.
Already with 19 rebounds before the end of the third quarter, he helped offensively when the Sorento threatened in the dying minutes, his short stab making it 83-73, with 2:02 left.
That was enough for the Aces to take the fight out of the Sorento, who are still inside the magic circle of 10 teams that would advance if the playoffs were to happen starting today.
Center Sonny Thoss did not see action because of plantar fasciitis.
Vic Manuel tossed in 15 and Dondon Hontiveros and Cyrus Baguio were also in twin digits for Compton, who said that a 5-0 start doesn’t mean a thing at this stage of the tournament.
“San Mig (now Purefoods), had what, a 1-5 start last year?” Compton said. “And they won the championship by finishing strong.
Five-zero means we can’t lose seven games [in the eliminations] because we only have 11 games.”
Reil Cervantes fired 18 points and Joshua Webb and Kyle Pascual added 13 and 10 for KIA.
Barako Bull gets a shot at barging into the win column when they clash with crowd-favorite Barangay Ginebra Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Globalport, which has its first-ever two-game win streak going under coach Pido Jarencio, battles Rain or Shine at 4:15 p.m.
The scores:
First Game
ALASKA 85—Abueva 23, Manuel 15, Hontiveros 12, Baguio 11, Banchero 7, Jazul 7, Menk 3, Eman 2, Exciminiano 2, Casio 2, Bugia 1, Dela Cruz 0, Dela Rosa 0, Thoss 0.
KIA 75—Cervantes 18, Webb 13, Pascual 10, Buensuceso 8, Jaime 6, Dehesa 5, Raymundo 4, Lingganay 3, Alvarez 3, Thiele 2, Padilla 2, Sanga 1, Revilla 0, Alonzo 0.
Quarters: 11-18, 39-38, 66-52, 85-75