PBA: Alaska arrests skid, trumps Meralco to keep playoff hopes alive

Jeron Teng leads Alaska. PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines–Alaska stopped a three-game slide after beating Meralco, 92-77, to momentarily claim eighth place in the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Aces improved to 4-5 to take a half-game lead over Magnolia in the standings. The Hotshots play NorthPort in the second game.

“I thought we did a much better job defensively as a team the fact that we held them to 77 points,” said Alaska head coach Alex Compton.

🎥 Jeron Teng pulls up and hits from the elbow! #PBALabanKungLaban pic.twitter.com/ciW7UGQZd1

— PBA (@pbaconnect) March 20, 2019

Jeron Teng scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds while Chris Banchero had a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Aces.

Alaska got going in the third quarter where it built a 16-point lead before repelling repeated rallies by Meralco in the final frame.

Sonny Thoss showed flashes of his old self to finish with 13 points and eight rebounds and his performance did not go unnoticed.

“How about Sonny Thoss? I thought Sonny was great. When we needed a basket he scored, when we needed someone to create, he created that three by Racal,” Compton commended.