ALASKA and San Miguel Beer remained tied in their race for the No. 1 ranking in the playoffs after carving out contrasting victories last night in the PBA Philippine Cup eliminations at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Aces came charging back from six points down inside the final 2:18 over hard luck NLEX, 90-84, while the Beermen broke away late in the second quarter to hand Meralco a thorough 88-77 beating for similar 8-1 records.
Alaska actually rallied from deficits of as large as 15 points early in the third quarter, with Dondon Hontiveros getting them back in the game before touching off their mammoth finishing kick with a four-point play.
Reigning MVP June Mar Fajardo had another big night with 21 points and 12 rebounds, and rookie Ronald Pascual had a breakout game with 15 as the Beermen handed the Bolts their fifth loss in nine matches.
Meanwhile, Samboy Lim, a member of the league’s 25 Greatest Players, last night collapsed during a legends’ game at the Ynares Arena in Pasig and has remained unconscious for more than two hours at press time.
Allan Caidic, another PBA great, and the other legends who were playing with Lim were still at his bedside at Medical City Hospital.
The scores:
First Game
ALASKA 90—Hontiveros 21, Abueva 16, Baguio 11, Thoss 11, Casio 11, Manuel 8, Jazul 7, Banchero 3, Exciminiano 2, Eman 0, Dela Rosa 0, Bugia 0, Menk 0, Dela Cruz 0.
NLEX 84—Borboran 22, Cardona 14, Villanueva J. 13, Taulava 10, Villanueva E. 9, Arboleda 6, Ramos 4, Canaleta 2, Camson 2, Arboleda 2, Hermida 0, Raymundo 0, Apinan 0, Baloria 0.
Quarters: 23-15, 40-42, 55-58, 90-84
Second Game
SAN MIGUEL BEER 88—Fajardo 21, Pascual 15, Santos 15, Tubid 10, Mercado 8, Kramer 5, Maierhofer 4, Lutz 4, Omolon 4, Ross 2, Fortuna 0, Lassiter 0, Semerad 0, Chua 0.
MERALCO 77—Hodge 19, Dillinger 13, Ildefonso 9, David 8, Macapagal 8, Anthony 7, Cortez 5, Buenafe 3, Wilson 2, Sena 2, Ferriols 1, Atkins 0, Caram 0, Guevarra 0.
Quarters: 22-24, 44-34, 72-59, 88-77