Aces learn from previous loss, pound import-less Elite
Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Losing to an import-less team just five days back, LaDontae Henton made it clear that Alaska learned its lessons.
The 24-year-old went on a hot tear and ushered the Aces to an easy 107-87 win over Blackwater on Sunday to notch its third victory in the 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup.
Henton exploded for 13 in the second frame and finished with 33 points, eight rebounds, and three assists to help Alaska bounce back after its 106-103 loss to San Miguel on Wednesday.
“The coaches did a good job on making us focus on each and every team no matter if they got an import or not. Any team can beat any team at any given night, so we just made sure that we were mentally focused on getting the win and playing great defense,” he said.
Henton and his teammates rued the missed chance against a Beermen team that didn’t have an import.
Given another opportunity, this time, against the Elite that are missing reinforcement Eric Dawson, Henton made sure there won’t be any let ups.
“We needed this one big. We couldn’t go down 2-6,” he said. “We still got our eyes on making the playoffs, so we got to try and win each and every game and we did it today. We were mentally tough on defense.”
The victory allowed Alaska to go back to the drawing board and continue its trek back to the playoffs.
“We didn’t expect a blowout, but we just expected to come out hard and do what we do and play Alaska basketball, and that’s play hard for four quarters and finish each game, which we weren’t able to do these last three to four games,” he said.
Alaska returns to the court next Wednesday against GlobalPort.
