Alaska buried Phoenix Petroleum early in a hole so deep the Fuel Masters didn’t get a chance to rise from the ashes, posting a 106-85 victory on Friday night that gave the Aces a solid shot at finishing with the No. 2 seeding in the PBA Philippine Cup playoffs at Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay.
The Aces opened up an 18-point halftime lead, and after a few hiccups in the third, bamboozled the Fuel Masters in the final frame to win pulling away and formally enter the quarterfinals.
They also avoided finishing in seventh or eighth spots—positions no team wants to be in at the playoffs.
“Of course we’d like to be No. 2 (for the playoffs), but after the conference, we’d like to be No. 1,” said coach Alex Compton after being informed that sixth place would be their lowest finish in the elimination round.
Alaska still has Rain or Shine left in its classification round schedule and a win, coupled by a TNT KaTropa loss to San Miguel Beer in a Petron Saturday Special Game at Ynares Center in Antipolo, would more or less guarantee the Aces the second twice-to-beat privilege.
“This game meant a lot to us,” Compton went on. “We needed this one bad, but we need the next one bad, too.”
Alaska rose to 6-4 while dealing the Fuel Masters a closing 6-5 record, which could put Phoenix at either No. 7 or 8, depending on the results of the last three playing dates.
Vic Manuel had 21 points and Kevin Racal 20 for the Aces.
Matthew Wright, the rookie, tossed in 18 to again lead all Phoenix shooters.
Earlier, Mahindra, playing for nothing else but pride, took control in the second half and plastered NLEX, 106-96, as the Floodbuster assured themselves of not bringing up the tail of the field in the season-opening conference.
Already out of the running since a week ago, Mahindra and coach Chris Gavina believe they can be competitive again when the next conference starts.
And with a game left—against Star this Wednesday—Gavina wants his boys to stay as sharp and take this kind of game to the Commissioner’s Cup.
“It all comes down to our commitment to excellence,” said Gavina, who celebrated his 38th birthday in style. “If we get into that mindset of giving attention to the little details, we can be highly competitive once again.”
NLEX, meanwhile, slumped to its eighth defeat in 10 outings and will be the tail-ender regardless of the result of its clash with Barangay Ginebra, also on Wednesday.
Finishing in the bottom of the standings marks the first time since the 2000 Commissioner’s Cup that a Yeng Guiao team brought up the rear.
Russel Escoto, a Gilas pool member, finished with 12 for Mahindra before injuring his left knee in late in the second quarter.
SCORES
Mahindra 106 – NLEX 96
MAHINDRA 106—Mallari 30, Celda 18, Escoto 12, Galanza 11, Apinan 10, Revilla 9, Deutchman 6, Ballesteros 5, Paniamogan 3, Eriobu 2, Yee 0, Elorde 0, Teng 0, Salva 0.
NLEX 96—Camson 17, Guinto 13, Baracael 10, Khobuntin 9, Lastimosa 9, Alas 8, Rios 6, J. Villanueva 6, Monfort 5, Lanete 4, Taulava 4, Soyud 2, Gotladera 2, E. Villanueva 1.
Quarters: 22-27, 57-49, 77-77, 106-96