Alaska’s Vic Manuel (left) and Calvin Abueva try to keep possession for the Aces as NLEX’s JR Quiñahan joins the fray during their match Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Fatigued but holding on long enough, NLEX wrapped up a challenging eight-day stretch by winning all its three games and shoring up its playoff position in the PBA Philippine Cup.
And the Road Warriors got their composure tested—and passed with flying colors—along the way.
“This win is good for us in terms of learning a lot of lessons,” coach Yeng Guiao said with a sigh of relief after his Road Warriors nearly blew a 30-point fourth quarter lead before carving out a 96-89 victory over Alaska that snapped the Aces’ six-game winning streak at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Even the two games before this was really hard and they (games) helped us in terms of keeping our composure in the endgame,” added Guiao after NLEX rose to 5-4 and put itself firmly in the middle of the pack.
“We were actually very tired with this being our third game in eight days.”
Barangay Ginebra got 27 points and 11 assists from LA Tenorio and a combined 45 from its twin towers as the Gin Kings handled TNT KaTropa with ease in the nightcap, 93-78, to also rise to 5-4.
Japeth Aguilar had 25 points and the 7-foot Greg Slaughter 20 and 14 rebounds for the Kings, who dealt the Texters a fifth setback also in nine games.
Kevin Alas made key free throws in the waning seconds to save the Road Warriors, who yielded a 32-4 run that had the Aces coming to within two after trailing 87-57 early in the payoff frame.
It was the third straight win for the Road Warriors, who will close out their elimination round schedule with matches against formidable squads Blackwater and TNT KaTropa.
“We will just try to get into a spot to make the next round and not play a team with a twice-to-beat advantage,” Guiao said. “That’s the remaining goal for us—try to get to at least sixth place.”
Tournament format calls for the top two teams after the eliminations to clash with the seventh- and eighth-seeded squads in the quarterfinals and needing just one win to make the Final Four.
FIRST GAME
NLEX 96—Alas 15, Fonacier 15, Soyud 15, Quiñahan 12, Ravena 12, Miranda 8, Tiongson 8, Mallari 4, Baguio 3, Al-Hussaini 2, Gotladera 2, Taulava 0.
ALASKA 89—Casio 12, Manuel 12, Teng 12, Abueva 10, Cruz 10, Enciso 10, Exciminiano 7, Banchero 4, Racal 4, Thoss 4, Potts 3, J. Pascual 1, Baclao 0.
Quarters: 29-18, 52-32, 79-54, 96-89
SECOND GAME
GINEBRA 93—Tenorio 27, J. Aguilar 25, Slaughter 20, Thompson 9, Ferrer 6, Cruz 6, Taha 0, Mercado 0, Caperal 0, Caguioa 0, R. Aguilar 0.
TNT KATROPA 78—Castro 17, Williams 17, Pogoy 16, Tautuaa 10, Garcia 8, Reyes 2, Torres 2, Semerad 2, Tamsi 2, Paredes 2, Golla 0, Carey 0.
22-18, 44-42, 63-62, 93-78