Alaska nips Barako Bull

Alaska took care of business from the free throw line as the Aces eked out a 91-89 victory over Barako Bull Energy Cola last night that put them in the quarterfinals of the PBA Governors’ Cup at Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay.

Wendell McKines hit two charities with 12.9 seconds left to break the game’s final tie as the Aces, who lost super rookie Calvin Abueva with still 6 minutes and 36 seconds left, snapped a two-game slide to improve to 4-4.

The Energy missed five free throws in the fourth period, three of them coming from Ronjay Buenafe, who also had a clear look at the potential game-winning triple that was way off the mark.

It was the third straight loss for the Energy, who closed out their elimination round stint with a 4-5 card and would need to beat a higher-ranked foe in the quarterfinals twice to earn a seat in the Final Four.

“The nice thing about this win is that it set us up for a chance to enter the top four,” said Alaska coach Luigi Trillo, who was slapped a technical foul with 30 seconds remaining, which actually proved to be a blessing in disguise.

Ahead by one at that point, McKines went for a drive only to be stripped of possession by Mike Singletary. And while the Barako Bull import was scampering downcourt for a fastbreak, Trillo was running in the sidelines cussing at the referees, who promptly gave him a T.

That technical foul stopped  play and denied the Energy the chance to regain the lead. It also put Buenafe to the free throw line for the last of his three misses. Buenafe also missed a total of three triple tries inside the final two minutes.

“I was just upset, I really saw a foul,” Trillo said when asked if the technical was deliberate or not.

The scores:

First Game

ALASKA  91—McKines 21 , Baguio 15, Casio 14, Espinas 11, Thoss 8, Abueva 7, Hontiveros 7, Jazul 5, Dela Cruz 3.

BARAKO BULL 89—Singletary 38, Buenafe 12, Seigle 11, Weinstein 7, Villanueva 7, Pennisi 7, Intal 3, Macapagal 2, Cruz 2, Marcelo 0, Jensen 0.

Quarters: 20-25, 39-39, 62-64, 91-89