Photo by Tristan Rafael Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
AN ALASKA side that has been unforgiving in the last three games goes for the jugular against GlobalPort today, taking the first of three shots it has to secure the first title series slot in the Smart Bro-PBA Philippine Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
A victory by the Aces in Game 5 of their Final Four clash with the Batang Pier will effectively end GlobalPort’s first-ever semifinal stint and put Alaska on course to nailing its 15th league championship.
Tip off is at 7 p.m.
Alaska has won the last three games with relative ease after dropping the series opener, its defense shutting down GlobalPort’s two biggest offensive weapons in Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle.
Romeo, who erupted for a career-high 41 points in a 107-93 Game 1 win, was held down to 18.5 points in the next two games before scoring 24 in an 84-109 Game 4 loss on Sunday night.
GlobalPort lost that one by a mile because Pringle could only manage 16 points. Jay Washington was the only other Batang Pier in double digits with 12.
And while GlobalPort continues to find ways to get contributions from its bench, Alaska is not having problems in that department at all.
On Sunday, Calvin Abueva scored 20 points and led the Aces’ bench in scoring 75 compared to the 36 of the Batang Pier. The disparity has been pronounced in the last three games with GlobalPort failing to get others involved in offense.
Still, Alaska coach Alex Compton refuses to look too far ahead.
“No, not at all,” Compton told reporters on Sunday when asked if he thought the series was already in the bag. “I don’t underestimate them. They continue to be one of the most explosive teams in the league and no (lead in the series) can make me change that thought I have of them.”
Alaska is shooting to make the Finals here for the third time in the last four seasons.
Last year, the Aces seemed to have the title in the bag only for Arwind Santos to hit a crucial triple that ultimately led to an incredible Game 7 victory by San Miguel Beer.
The Aces have grabbed a huge edge in the series using total team effort on both ends. And Compton couldn’t be prouder of his wards for not losing sight of their defensive tasks.
“What this shows is that we have five guys on the floor who are fully committed to playing team defense,” Compton said.