Alaska clamps down on Graham, routs Air21

Mark Isip vs Cyrus Baguio. PBA IMAGES/Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines—Alaska got off to a blistering start and never looked back as it dumped Air21, 110-80, Wednesday night to at least end its nightmarish season on a bright note in the 2012 PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Cyrus Baguio started the onslaught with 17 of his 24 points in the first half.

The Aces finished the conference with a 2-7 record and 11-24 this season.

“It’s a collective team effort. Our shots started to fall,” said Alaska coach Luigi Trillo.

Alaska started the game with a 7-0 run and led by as much as 37, 93-56, on a Brandon Cablay
triple at the 11:48 mark of the fourth quarter.

Import Jason Forte had a game-high 26 points on top of 12 rebounds and six assists.

The Aces did it on both ends of the floor as they also put the clamps down on explosive import Zach Graham.

Graham came in averaging league-high 39 points per game and was fresh off a 51-point downpour but Wednesday night was held to his lowest output with 25 points on eight-of-27 shooting from the field.

He also committed six turnovers.

The 30-point rout also set the biggest winning margin this conference.