The Aces started hot and opened a 20-point lead in the third period but what was most commendable was how they kept their composure in the endgame when the Bolts made a dizzying run to turn things around at Mall of Asia Arena.
“I’m just happy to win,” Alaska coach Alex Compton said after Mike Harris hit some key baskets in the stretch and Chris Banchero missed a triple double by just two assists after hitting 13 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in a game the Aces couldn’t afford to lose.
Meralco’s franchise-best seven-game winning streak came to a halt with the loss, its first since Oct. 12, but one that unveiled the personality of the walking-wounded squad, which almost turned things around in the waning minutes.
“They have phenomenal character and they just never gave up,” Compton said as he braces for another clash on a day’s rest on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay.
Simon Enciso scored 23 points, counting the final two free throws with 7.7 seconds remaining.
“[In the] first half, I thought our defensive energy and attention to detail was perfect,” Compton said as he paid tribute to his charges for a reversal in effort compared to their lethargic Game 1 stand that led to a 97-92 loss.
Allen Durham struggled for his 24 points for the Bolts, as the Alaska defense concentrated on him all night.
Meralco rallied behind Nico Salva, who tied his career high with 20 points, and Baser Amer, who hit a triple with under a minute left that had the Bolts coming within three points.
Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra tries to overhaul a 0-2 deficit starting with Wednesday’s Game 3 with a little bit of history on its side.
Only one of 36 teams that fell behind 0-2 in a best-of-five series has been able to bounce back and win. That team was Barangay Ginebra, pulling off the caper in the 2010 Philippine Cup quarterfinals against Talk ‘N Text.