THIS one wasn’t even close, and yet, Alaska coach Alex Compton still tried to deny the obvious.
The Aces crushed GlobalPort to bits with a game-long dominance on both ends last night, their 109-84 Game 4 victory moving them within another win of a Smart Bro-PBA Philippine Cup champtionship series slot.
Calvin Abueva scored 20 points and had 13 rebounds to highlight the bench strength Alaska has used to dominate the last three games for a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Final Four series at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Dondon Hontiveros scored 16 points and RJ Jazul hit four triples to complement the unforgiving defense that had the Aces scoring their most lopsided victory in the series.
“Not at all,” Compton said when asked if he thought this series was over. “I never believe that. I don’t believe anything is over until the final buzzer sounds.”
After losing the series opener, 107-93 on Monday, the Aces have blown the Batang Pier off the floor in the last three games, winning by an average of just over 21 points.
Game 5, the potential series clincher, is slated tomorrow at 7 p.m., also at the Big Dome.
It wasn’t only the defensive energy that carried the Aces again last night.
Four players shot 10 points or more for Compton and the 20-point explosion of Abueva highlighted a 75-36 edge the Aces enjoyed in bench scoring and a 24-16 advantage in the assists department.
Terrence Romeo tossed in 24 with Stanley Pringle hitting 16 that went with five rebounds.
HARDWORKING Alaska power forward Vic Manuel outmaneuvers GlobalPort’s Billy Mamaril for a reverse shot in last night’s Game 4 won in workmanlike precision by the Aces at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
AUGUST DELA CRUZ
The difference, though, was that after the pair, only Jay Washington contributed in double digits with 12. The rest of the support cast was practically shut down.
Meanwhile, Rain or Shine also shoots for a 3-1 lead in its half of the semifinal series with defending champion San Miguel. The Elasto Painters will go into the 7 p.m. contest at the Big Dome without two key men in Raymond Almazan and Jericho Cruz.
The scores:
ALASKA 109—Abueva 20, Hontiveros 16, Jazul 14, Banchero 10, Dela Rosa 9, Baguio 8, Casio 8, Manuel 8 Eximiniano 7, Baclao 4, Menk 3, Dela Cruz 2, Thoss 0.
GLOBALPORT 84—Romeo 24, Pringle 16, Washington 12, Yeo 8, Isip 6, Sumang 6, Kramer 4 Jensen 2, Maierhofer 2, Pena 2, Semerad 2, Hayes 0, Mamaril 0, uyloan 0.
Quarters: 32-20, 54-40, 82-62, 109-84