Pre-season game between Rain or Shine Elastopainters vs Alaska Aces. Photo from PBA.ph
Alaska had everything clicking against Rain or Shine on Wednesday.
The Aces were efficient on offense and lethal on defense to stifle the Elasto Painters, 110-97, for their first win in the preseason Wednesday at Upper Deck Gym in Pasig City.
Calvin Abueva led six Aces in double-digit scoring with 19 points that went with seven rebounds while Ronald Pascual and Jeron Teng had 15 points apiece.
Abueva teamed up with Vic Manuel in the fourth quarter as the two bruisers accounted for Alaska’s last 11 points inside the final five minutes.
Manuel finished with 12 points while Simon Enciso and Carl Cruz had 11 and 10 points, respectively.
The Aces shot 61% from the field and 29 out of 36 made field goals came off assists.
Alaska never trailed and led by as much as 17, 56-39, after a basket by Enciso.
The Elasto Painters, who were without James Yap, Raymond Almazan and Jay Washington, cut to four with 5:02 left after a triple by Jeramy King.
But that’s when Abueva and Manuel took charge for Alaska. Back-to-back conversions by Manuel gave the Aces a 110-95 advantage with only 1:06 to go.
Ed Daquioag tallied 18 points while Maverick Ahanmisi and Chris Tiu chipped in 13 points each for Rain or Shine, which was held to only one field goal in the last five minutes.