CLIFF Hodge of Meralco (left) fishes a foul from Alaska’s Calvin Abueva in last night’s knockout semifinal match. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
GAME TOMORROW
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
7 p.m.—Rain or Shine vs Alaska
SHORT-HANDED and shooting awfully for the second straight game, Alaska turned to the biggest character of its game that helped the Aces get another shot at a PBA title this season—its willingness to play no-nonsense defense.
Applying the noose on Meralco all game long last night, the Aces pulled out a low-scoring 76-70 decision in the KO game of their Final Four series and marched on to face Rain or Shine in a championship showdown starting tomorrow night at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
“They guys just didn’t give up, they kept playing and playing,” Alaska coach Alex Compton said after the tight victory, made possible only after the Aces choked the Bolts to three meaningless points inside the final three minutes to erase a 67-66 deficit and win the best-of-five series.
“That’s why the feeling I have now is more of pride,” he went on after steering Alaska to a third straight Finals appearance, hoping to win one for a change after falling short opposite San Miguel Beer in the last two.
Calvin Abueva fired eight of his 19 points in the fourth and RJ Jazul delivered some crucial blows to the Bolts’ cause in the stretch as Alaska scored 10 points inside the final 1:51 which proved to be the story of the game.
“We held them to 70—in a conference with imports where a touch (on an opponent) is a foul. That’s something,” Compton said. “Meralco is a tough and well-coached team and they are getting better.”
Chris Banchero came off the bench to shoot 18 points and Rob Dozier fired 14 that went with 18 rebounds aside from helping the Aces clog the lane to offset the size advantage Meralco import Arinze Onuaki had underneath.
The victory by the third-ranked Aces put them on a collision course with No. 5 Rain or Shine, sealing a title series that will not have the top two teams in the playoff for the first time since the 2004 Fiesta Conference.
San Miguel Beer, the No. 1 team, lost to the Elasto Painters, 3-1. Meralco was the No. 2 squad. But despite the lofty ranking, Meralco wasn’t given much of a chance to go deep in this series, much less take it to a decider.
The Bolts had a one-point lead after Jared Dillinger completed a three-point play off Banchero with three minutes left before they were forced into a drought by the Alaska defense.
The scores:
ALASKA 76—Abueva 19, Banchero 18, Dozier 14, Jazul 9, Thoss 8, Baclao 5, Hontiveros 3, Baguio 0, Dela Cruz 0, Exciminiano 0.
MERALCO 70—Dillinger 18, Onuaku 15, Amer 12, Hodge 9, Caram 6, Faundo 4, Hugnatan 4, Newsome 2, Alapag 0, Bono 0, Buenafe Ry 0.
Quarters: 22-22, 37-39, 56-50, 76-70