PBA IMAGES
Alaska went on a blistering 16-0 run in the fourth quarter to steamroll Rain or Shine, 106-89, in the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup Wednesday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Mike Harris dominated with 39 points and 25 rebounds while guards Chris Banchero and Simon Enciso and forward Vic Manuel had 16 points apiece for the Aces, who tied the Blackwater Elite in second place at 4-1.
“I thought we were a little bit rusty but we just kept going,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton, whose squad had a 32-day layoff since its previous game.
“Mike (Harris) was great. Biggest thing was we have the best player on the floor today. He just asserted himself today,” Compton added.
Harris unleashed 22 points in the second half, including 12 in the fourth quarter, where the Aces turned a four-point deficit to a 91-75 advantage with 5:22 left.
“We got stops and we made shots that’s what usually happens [during a run]. We just pulled away,” Compton said.
Terrence Watson played through food poisoning in debut for the Painters and still came away with a double-double of 10 points and 13 rebounds. Watson, who played for San Miguel Beer, in last year’s Governors’ Cup, replaced J’Nathan Bullock after Rain or Shine started the conference at 0-2.
Beau Belga led ROS with 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field.