ALASKA’s Vic Manuel disputes possession with NLEX slotman Asi Taulava (right) in last night’s game at Cuneta Astrodome. At left is Aces guard Chris Banchero. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
ALASKA walked the tightrope before slipping past underdog NLEX, 82-78, last night to move into the second round of the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals at Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay.
Veterans Tony dela Cruz and Eric Menk hit crucial buckets in the stretch and JV Casio iced the come-from-behind win by the third-seeded Aces, who will next face the survivor of the Meralco-Purefoods duel.
The Alaska defense also did its job the entire night on Asi Taulava, the main weapon of the 10th-ranked Road Warriors, who was stymied by a consistent double-team every time he touched the ball in the shaded area.
“We really felt that Asi was the barometer of the (NLEX) team,” coach Alex Compton said. “We didn’t want to leave anyone alone (defensively) on Asi. We had to stop the man leading them.”
Vic Manuel scored 13 points to lead a balanced scoring effort for the Aces, who were relegated to the quarterfinals after losing their last two games narrowly in the elimination round.
“I don’t think that our effort in those two losses was questionable,” Compton said. “We did adjustments on things we saw (in reviewing their games) that we cannot tell you. And it worked.”
Casio left Mac Cardona flat-footed in the final Alaska offensive, scoring on a layup that rounded out scoring.
It was Cardona who shoved the Road Warriors to within 78-80, but he failed to keep in step with Casio on the Alaska inbound as Dela Cruz found his point guard wide open while cutting to the basket for the wide-open layup.
“It was actually a great defensive battle,” Compton said. “That’s a good offensive team we held down to 78 points.”
Taulava, the 41-year-old former MVP, finished with 10 points and 14 rebounds, but he was effectively taken out of the offensive flow when the game was on the line.
Another “old guy” in the 40-year-old Menk stepped up for the Aces.
Menk, the 2005 MVP, hit a reverse layup off Taulava to beat the 24-second shotclock for 76-72. Then Aldrech Ramos rifled in the last of his two triples on the other end that had the Road Warriors coming within two.
But Dela Cruz gave the Aces an 80-76 lead with a jumper from the left corner, before topping off his fine outing with that assist to Casio.
Meanwhile, Taulava donated P1,000 for every point that he scored in last night’s game to the fund drive to support the medical expenses of Samboy Lim, who is still in a coma after collapsing during an exhibition game two weeks ago.
The scores:
First Game
ALASKA 82—Manuel 13, Baguio 11, Casio 11, Hontiveros 10, Menk 8, Dela Cruz 8, Banchero 6, Thoss 6, Abueva 5, Dela Rosa 2, Jazul 2, Eman 0, Exciminiano 0.
NLEX 78—Ramos 17, Borboran 13, Cardona 12, Lingganay 11, Taulava 10, Camson 6, Canaleta 5, Raymundo 2, Villanueva E. 2, Villanueva J. 0, Arboleda H. 0, Apinan 0, Arboleda W. 0, Baloria 0.
Quarters: 26-17, 49-38, 63-58, 82-78