Casio sizzles in clutch to lift Alaska past TNT

JV Casio vs Harvey Carey. PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines — JVee Casio delivered a brilliant clutch performance capped off by the game-winner that buoyed Alaska to a 94-92 victory over Talk N’ Text Friday at the PBA Philippine Cup.

Casio first unleashed 10 points in a mere 47-second stretch to bring the Aces back in, then assisted Calvin Abueva for a tying trey before canning the Aces final bucket with 2.4 seconds left.

“JVee Casio what can you say… He made us look good single handedly like that,” said head coach Luigi Trillo on his star guard’s performance.

Casio ended the game with 25 points, a rebound, four assists and a steal — showing the exact character Trillo wants his boys to have.

The Aces looked like they have lost control of the game when the erstwhile unbeaten Texters posted an 11-point lead and poised to break away.

But Alaska, which extended its unbeaten run to five straight after a 0-2 start in the conference, turned to Casio, who’s familiar with pressure, to salvage them.

“It was nice to see them scratch and claw, it builds character for this kind of team,” added Trillo, whose squad just dealt the Texters their first loss.

Rookie Calvin Abueva, who has been playing as good as advertised, fouled out of the game with 46.6 seconds left in the game.

But not before nailing his 14th point of the game on a wide-open trey from top of the key which made it a tied game at 90, completing Alaska’s comeback.

Abueva also notched  five rebounds, four assists, five steals and two blocks for another solid performance.

Talk N’ Text had a chance to send the game into overtime with a good drawn up play, but Larry Fonacier’s shot rattled out as the time expired.

The Texters even had a great advantage in rebounds, 50-38, over the Aces — who only have three offensive boards all night — but still absorbed their first loss of the conference.

Jimmy Alapag led Talk N’ Text with 17 points, while five other blue shirts chipped in double digit markers in a losing effort.