PUSHED to the limit the last time out, Alaska braces for another tough outing against Meralco today when the Aces gun for a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-five Final Four series in the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Game time is 7 p.m. at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, and coach Alex Compton knows that Game 2 won’t be any easier than a 97-94 series-opening win that his Aces gutted out on Monday night.
“I told the guys that this will be a tough series,” Compton told reporters after that survival act in Game 1. “We have to be tough physically and mentally to win this series.”
Calvin Abueva figured in a scary sequence in the final five seconds of the first game and was helped off the floor by some of his teammates.
He will be available today and is Meralco’s biggest problem.
On Monday, the former Rookie of the Year and the favorite to win his first Best Player of the Conference award—should the Aces march on to the Finals—came off the bench and scored all of his 15 points in the second half.
And that is not counting the bundle of energy that he provides to Alaska whenever he is on the floor.
RJ Jazul was the hero for the Aces in Game 1, coming up big on both ends in the fourth period to plug the hole created by the continued absence of starting point guard JV Casio, who has a bruised right knee.
Missing Manuel
The Aces will miss another vital cog in versatile forward Vic Manuel, who strained his right calf muscle in a previous game, and Meralco must be able to take advantage of this and tie the series.
Otherwise, it would be a real tough journey for the surprising Bolts against the Aces.
Alaska import Rob Dozier had just seven points in Game 1, which was probably one of the reasons why the Aces trailed for the majority of the game.
Meralco’s Arinze Onuaku struggled big time against the double-teaming defense of Alaska underneath, shooting just 13 points even with Dozier riding the bench because of early foul trouble.
The winner of this series will advance to face the survivor of the San Miguel Beer-Rain or Shine matchup, which the Elasto Painters lead, 1-0. The Painters are gunning to move within another win of a title series stint at press time.