Aces seize top spot, hold off streaking Beermen

Alaska locked up the top overall seeding after holding off San Miguel Beer, 82-77, in the 2015 PBA Governors’ Cup on Saturday night in Panabo City, Davao del Norte.

The Aces had to lean on their import Romeo Travis in the final minute to will them through after blowing a 21-point lead in the third quarter.

Travis scored five unanswered points including a three-point play that gave the lead back to Alaska, 79-77, with 51.2 seconds left. JVee Casio made three free throws in the final 13.2 ticks to preserve the Aces’ eighth win in 10 games.

Travis finished with 32 points and 10 rebounds while Casio scored all of his seven points in the fourth period as Alaska snapped San Miguel Beer’s eight-game winning streak.

The Beermen got their first taste of the lead, 77-74, after Ronald Tubid completed a rare four-point play and Marcio Lassiter sank a right corner triple with2:48 left.

But San Miguel’s lead didn’t even last for two minutes with Travis putting Alaska back ahead.

Calvin Abueva added 12 points and six rebounds for the Aces apart from him being an annoyance to June Mar Fajardo. Abueva got under Fajardo’s skin late in the third quarter where both were whistled for a technical for second motion.

The Beermen, who are assured of a twice-to-beat edge and a top two finish in the quarterfinals, rallied behind Fajardo, who asserted himself more in the second half after struggling in the first two quarters. But the reigning MVP seemed to have ran out of steam late.