Alaska breaks Ginebra, advances to Govs Cup semis

Cyrus Baguio vs Slaughter PHOTO BY TRISTAN TAMAYO/INQUIRER.net

Pulling their cards in the crucial times, Alaska advanced to the semifinals of the PBA Governors’ Cup as it trumped a broken Ginebra San Miguel, 114-108, Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Down 16, 65-49, in the third quarter, the Aces then began to press, showed their hand, and shocked Ginebra’s full house as they went on a 22-3 flush to go ahead 77-73 near the end of the period.

Aces head coach Alex Compton said it was his players’ will to win that propelled them to the huge run in the third that changed the game’s momentum altogether.

“I told them at half time this is playoff basketball,” Compton said. “It’s us, we gotta take our destiny into our own hands, we gotta play right.”

“I felt these guys stepped up. I didn’t make them that way, these are guys who have tremendous character. These guys fought back.”

Orlando Johnson tried to put Ginebra on his shoulders but his touch found him a little too late as the Aces’ free-throws iced his three-pointers in the fourth.

Johnson hit a three-pointer with 29.7 seconds remaining in the game to put Ginebra closer, 108-103, but time wasn’t on their side.

Romeo Travis led five Aces who scored in double figures as he finished with 29 points, 21 rebounds, six assists, three blocks, and one steal.

Vic Manuel, who played only in the second half, finished with 14 points, 11 coming in the fourth period, to go along seven rebounds. Calvin Abueva also had a double-double for the Aces with 14 points and 10 boards.

Dondon Hontiveros and Cyrus Baguio had 13 and 10 points respectively.

Johnson led Ginebra with 28 points and 10 rebounds while Sol Mercado added 21 points.

The scores:

ALASKA 114 – Travis 29, Manuel 14, Thoss 14, Hontiveros 13, Baguio 10, Banchero 9, Abueva 8, Casio 7, Dela Rosa 5, Jazul 3, Exciminiano 2, Baclao 0, Menk 0.

GINEBRA 108 – Johnson 28, Mercado 21, Slaughter 19, Aguilar 15, Tenorio 14, Kim 5, Baracael 4, Marcelo 2, Pena 0, Monfort 0, Brondial 0.

Quarters: 27-31, 45-53, 75-77, 114-108