Sonny Thoss. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Just when Alaska felt that the game was slipping from its grasp, coach Alex Compton stumbled upon an old reliable to save the day for the Aces.
As the Aces saw their 18-point lead in the third quarter dissipate to five, 87-82, in the final 4:15, 35-year-old Sonny Thoss came up big down the stretch and anchored a killer 10-0 blast to help Alaska regain control with 10-point lead.
“Sonny came in and asserted himself. He played like an import,” said the American mentor after Alaska seized a 98-92 victory over Mahindra on Wednesday..
Thoss truly played like a reinforcement as he held strong in the paint while Cory Jefferson took a breather down the stretch. The import checked back in the game with a minute to play, but the game was already out of reach.
“The critical thing was when we sat out Cory, Sonny really showed up,” lauded Compton of Thoss.
But for the veteran slotman, it was just a matter of taking charge when Alaska went a bit complacent in the fourth quarter.
“I just tried to give whatever I can to the team,” he said. “I was resting most of the game. I was in and out so I had a little energy and I tried to be aggressive and take advantage of the opportunity.”
Thoss made the most of his 17 minutes on the floor as he tallied 11 points, eight coming in the payoff period, while also grabbing two rebounds. More importantly, that preserved Alaska’s immaculate record as it cruised to its third straight win.
Despite finding a place near the top early in the conference, Thoss warned that the Aces shouldn’t be complacent.
“It’s good to be up but it’s still early. Anything can happen and we just have to stay humble, grounded and focused,” he said.