Aces halt skid, notch 2nd win

ALASKA held Star to just seven points in the second quarter last night and went on to pull out an 85-69 victory as the Aces snapped a three-game losing streak in the PBA Governors’ Cup at Panabo Multi-Purpose Tourism and Cultural Center in Davao del Norte.

That was all the Aces needed to peel away from the Hotshots, who also lost former two-time MVP James Yap to a twisted right knee late in the quarter as Star reeled to a fifth straight defeat and dropped in the company of idle Blackwater in bringing up the rear of the 12-team field.

LaDontae Henton scattered 27 points and pulled down nine rebounds and Calvin Abueva, in a rare start, had 10 and 10 for the Aces, who rose slightly in the standings at 2-4 after finally winning one.

Joel Wright’s 30 points and 22 rebounds went down the drain after getting little help from Star’s talent-laden local roster as Yap, after stepping out with 3:50 left in the second and playing just over six minutes, finished with just two points and the squad’s second gunslinger, PJ Simon, winding up with just three in 23 minutes.

Alaska played a lot better as a team as reflected by the 20 assists the Aces dished out, compared to the paltry seven of the Hotshots, whose entire starting five failed to issue even one.

The road gets bumpier for the Hotshots from here as their next three assignments would be against Barangay Ginebra on Sunday before they take on Phoenix Petroleum and then Meralco the next week.

Alaska closed out the first half sitting on a 41-25 lead, bloating this to 20 after two straight baskets to open the third.

Star didn’t just roll over and die after that, as the Hotshots fought hard to get back in the game, even creeping to within 66-63 after an RR Garcia basket with 5:51 remaining. But the Hotshots would be held down to just six points from there.

Garcia, acquired in a trade with defunct Barako Bull before the start of the conference, was the only local in twin digits for Star after finishing with 15.

Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra and Rain or Shine clash at 6:45 today with the Gin Kings seeking to get back on track and stay in the upper half of the standings.

The scores:
ALASKA 85—Henton 27, Abueva 10, Baclao 8, Thoss 8, Racal 6, Casio 5, Exciminiano 5, Jazul 5, Banchero 3, Galliguez 3, Hontiveros 3, Magat 0, Dela Rosa 0.
STAR 69—Wright 30, Garcia 15, Pingris 8, Melton 4, Barroca 3, Simon 3, Maliksi 2, Sangalang 2, Yap 2, Brondial 0, Mallari 0, Pascual 0, Reavis 0.
Quarters: 16-18, 41-25, 57-50, 85-69