Aces secure quarterfinals spot, beat Hotshots behind Manuel’s career-high

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Vic Manuel took charge in the fourth quarter as shorthanded Alaska beat Magnolia, 103-99, to secure a spot in the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals Sunday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Manuel set a career-high 35 points while Antonio Campbell added 28 points an 15 rebounds for the Aces, who tied TNT in second place with a 6-1 record.

“I thought it was a playoff game personally,” said Alaska head coach Alex Compton. “They played really well, came back and took the lead, but it’s going to be pretty impossible to talk to you guys without talking to Vic Manuel.”

“I don’t know what to say. He went off and I think Rafi, I don’t know if he’s the premier one-on-one post defender or he’s just one of them but I have incredible respect for Rafi Reavis’ defense and I think he’s helped teams win championships his whole career the way he plays defense so for Vic to score the way he did against such a smart, long defender and a winner like Rafi was really amazing,” Compton added.

The 30-year-old forward scored 17 points in the fourth quarter to fend off the Hotshots.

Manuel went 14-of-20 from the field and had seven rebounds and two blocks.

Justin Jackson had 21 points and 13 rebounds in his PBA debut for Magnolia but shot only 3-of-13 from the free throw line and missed a dunk inside the final minute that would’ve cut the Aces’ lead down to three.

Paul Lee also had 21, including 19 in the second half but it still wasn’t enough as the Hotshots dropped their third straight game to fall to 3-4.

Alaska posted its second consecutive victory since its star forward Calvin Abueva, who was suspended indefinitely by the Aces for failing to report to the team for more than a week.