Texters, Aces in KO match

UNSTOPPABLE San Miguel Beer cornerstone June Mar Fajardo shoots over Star’s Raffi Reavis and Ian Sangalang in Wednesday night’s game won by the Beermen at Smart Araneta Coliseum. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

TROPANG TNT tries to keep its reign as Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup champion going when the Texters battle Alaska for the last Final Four slot at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

Tip-off for the knockout match between two well-organized squads worthy of contending for the title is at 7 p.m., with the Aces having some momentum after coming off an 85-81 Game 2 win on Tuesday night.

Alaska’s defense came to fore in that game, and it is something coach Alex Compton hopes his Aces could again do as they try to claw their way back into a title series for the second time this season.

TNT, on the other hand, is looking for a win to get a shot at repeating, with the winner of this match to advance opposite No. 2 Meralco in a best-of-five matchup starting Monday.

Powerhouse San Miguel Beer, the top-seeded side, bagged the third Final Four slot on Wednesday, going through the proverbial eye of the needle before bundling out No. 8 Star in the second game of their series.

Rain or Shine will be the Beermen’s foe after the Elasto Painters swept San Miguel’s more popular sister squad, Barangay Ginebra, in their race-to-two series with a thorough 102-89 triumph on Monday night.

“Wow, holding them (Texters) to 81 points (in Game 2) is a testament to our defense,” Compton said. “We sure would like to do that again to such a talented team.”

Rob Dozier and Calvin Abueva will again be at the forefront of Alaska’s attack.

TNT will turn to veterans Jason Castro and Ranidel de Ocampo and import David Simon.
But TNT also has an ace in rookie Troy Rosario, who shot a career-high 31 points built around seven triples in Game 1.

In Game 2, Rosario missed a wide-open look for another triple with the score at 83-81.

“My heart sunk to the fifth level of the basement parking when we left him open,” Compton joked. “We should never do that again.”