MANILA—LA Tenorio drained two crucial triples in the fourth quarter and Sonny Thoss was at his defensive best Friday as Alaska tripped Powerade, 78-70, that fortified the Aces’ semifinal chances in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
On the eve of his 27th birthday, Tenorio went on to finish with 20 points, nine of them in the fourth quarter when the game still hung in the balance, even as Thoss finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds that helped the Aces to a 3-3 record.
More than improving to .500 again, the win gave the Aces back the confidence after they had lost to Petron in overtime last week, 82-81.
“This is a good bounce-back game for us because it was a tough loss for us the last game,” Alaska coach Tim Cone told reporters.
Powerade got 22 points from Gary David, but import Chris Porter was shackled down by Thoss to his worst outing of 13 points and nine rebounds as the Tigers dropped their fourth game in six outings.
“I don’t think we played a confident game, but we battled through,” Cone added.
An import-less Barangay Ginebra squad survived Air21, 89-87, in the second game to climb to 3-2 and formally oust the Express, who absorbed a fifth straight loss.
“We needed this win, especially because we had to cope up without an import,” Ginebra coach Jong Uichico said.
Ginebra will play again Sunday, against B-Meg, and Uichico said he is hopeful that they could come to terms with a new import by then. He refused to disclose the name of the potential replacement for Curtis Stinson, though.
Stinson sat it out because of a swollen right knee and will be out for at least another week, meaning for two more games counting the clash against the Llamados and against the Aces on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Talk ‘N Text and Petron Blaze try to formally clinch the first semifinal berth Saturdaywhen the two powerhouses running 1-2 in the standings clash at 5:30 p.m. today also at the Big Dome.
Rain or Shine and Meralco also try to creep closer toward a coveted playoff spot when they battle it out in the second game slated at 7:45 p.m.
The first half was close before the Alaska defense finally settled down to limit the Tigers to just 11
points in the third quarter that resulted in a 12-point Alaska lead heading into the fourth.
Though the Aces played with command in the fourth, it took those two Tenorio triples to finally snuff the fight out of the Tigers, with the last trifecta conversion coming at the 1:28 mark for a 75-63 lead.
“Was that (game) a gift for myself? No, it just happened, but it was a great birthday gift,” Tenorio
told reporters after also hauling down six rebounds and issuing six assists.
The scores:
First game
ALASKA 78—Tenorio 20, Forte 16, Thoss 14, Baguio 11, Reyes 6, Dela Cruz 4, Borboran 3, Gonzales 2, Cablay 2, Custodio 0, Eman 0.
POWERADE 70—David 22, Porter 13, Macapagal 7, Cruz 7, Antonio 7, Lanete 6, Quinahan 4, Reyes J. 2, Gonzales 2, Allera 0, Reyes R. 0, Rizada 0, Espino 0.
Quarters: 20-17, 40-37, 60-48, 78-70
Second Game
BRGY. GINEBRA 89—Caguioa 21, Wilson 14, Intal 13, Tubid 11, Menk 9, Cortez 6, Helterbrand 5, De Ocampo 4, Labagala 2, Wilson 2, Mamaril 2.
AIR21 87—Sharma 19, Arboleda 17, Canaleta 12, Bangura 7, Urbiztondo 7, Salvador 6, Avenido 6, Najorda 4, Artadi 4, Cabahug 3, Juntilla 2, Espiritu 0, Hontiveros 0.
Quarters: 18-24, 41-33, 60-56, 89-87
On the eve of his 27th birthday, Tenorio went on to finish with 20 points, nine of them in the fourth quarter when the game still hung in the balance, even as Thoss finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds that helped the Aces to a 3-3 record.
More than improving to .500 again, the win gave the Aces back the confidence after they had lost to Petron in overtime last week, 82-81.
“This is a good bounce-back game for us because it was a tough loss for us the last game,” Alaska coach Tim Cone told reporters.
Powerade got 22 points from Gary David, but import Chris Porter was shackled down by Thoss to his worst outing of 13 points and nine rebounds as the Tigers dropped their fourth game in six outings.
“I don’t think we played a confident game, but we battled through,” Cone added.
Meanwhile, Talk ‘N Text and Petron Blaze try to formally clinch the first semifinal berth today when the two powerhouses running 1-2 in the standings clash at 5:30 p.m. today also at the Big Dome.
Rain or Shine and Meralco also try to creep closer toward a coveted playoff spot when they battle it out in the second game slated at 7:45 p.m.
The first half was close before the Alaska defense finally settled down to limit the Tigers to just 11
points in the third quarter that resulted in a 12-point Alaska lead heading into the fourth.
Though the Aces played with command in the fourth, it took those two Tenorio triples to finally snuff the fight out of the Tigers, with the last trifecta conversion coming at the 1:28 mark for a 75-63 lead.
“Was that (game) a gift for myself? No, it just happened, but it was a great birthday gift,” Tenorio
told reporters after also hauling down six rebounds and issuing six assists.
The scores:
ALASKA 78—Tenorio 20, Forte 16, Thoss 14, Baguio 11, Reyes 6, Dela Cruz 4, Borboran 3, Gonzales 2, Cablay 2, Custodio 0, Eman 0.
POWERADE 70—David 22, Porter 13, Macapagal 7, Cruz 7, Antonio 7, Lanete 6, Quinahan 4, Reyes J. 2, Gonzales 2, Allera 0, Reyes R. 0, Rizada 0, Espino 0.
Quarters: 20-17, 40-37, 60-48, 78-70