It didn’t take long for Alaska to establish its dominance and send Phoenix packing with a 93-75 demolition in the PBA Philippine Cup Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
The Aces, after starting the conference 0-2, won their fifth straight game and improved to 5-2 while the Fuel Masters dropped to 3-4.
Alaska went on a blistering 21-4 run across the first two quarters with Nonoy Baclao capping it off with a jumper midway through the second period to give the Aces a 34-14 lead.
Phoenix still managed to cut the deficit to 14, 34-20 on Jeff Chan’s triple with 5:06 left in the first half, but the Aces retaliated with a 14-4 run to break the game wide open.
“It’s just one of those halves where I thought our defense had a lot of teeth,” said Alaska head coach Alex Compton. “That was really the story of the game, after that it’s more like maintaining the lead and not let them get too close within striking distance.”
“They had a good run to start the fourth quarter then we just have to settle down and change some stuff. It’s a big win for us.”
Phoenix managed to put up a scare in the fourth quarter after JC Intal made a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 14, 71-57, at the 9:28 mark but, as like what happened in the first half, the Aces had an immediate answer.
The Aces went on a 16-3 run that Kevin Racal capped off with a triple for Alaska’s 87-60 lead with 4:30 left in the game.
Chris Banchero paced Alaska with 22 points, five rebounds, and four assists while the returning Calvin Abueva, who left Alaska’s last game against Blackwater due to a family emergency, had 21 points and 15 rebounds.
Matthew Wright led Phoenix with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists.