Alaska Aces checks slide, spills Barako Bull Energy

Sonny Thoss of Alaska squeezes his way in during  a game against B-Meg. Thoss fired a career-best 27 points Wednesday to help Alaska notch its first win in six games at the expense of Barako Bull. PBA IMAGE/Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines – Coach Joel Banal felt relieved at the rare experience of a post-game interview after five years.

Thanks to Sonny Thoss, the Alaska bench tactician and his Aces evaded Wednesday night what could have been the worst start of the franchise in its Philippine Basketball Association history.

Thoss fired a career-high 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as the Aces snapped Barako Bull’s winning run with a 93-72 breakthrough win in the Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Thoss scored nine points in the third period, pulling the Aces out of a four-point hole to a 61-54 lead before Alaska widened the gap further to secure a first victory after five losses.

Rookie Mac Baracael, LA Tenorio and Cyrus Baguio also shone in offense even as a tough defense silenced Barako Bull’s Willie Miller and Danny Seigle.

“We controlled the offense and kept the aggressiveness in defense,’’ said Banal, who visited the media room for the post-game interview for the first time since 2006.

Until last night, the Aces were the worst team in offense with an average of 74.6 points. They also fared miserably in rebounding with 39.2 boards per game, including a franchise low 28 rebounds against Meralco last week.

Against Barako Bull, the Aces eclipsed their usual pathetic output and had more rebounds, 47-43, than the Energy.

“We’re not making our shots in the past five games because we’re too eager to put the ball in the hole. Now, we learned to control it and made brilliant decisions on the floor,’’ said Banal.

Dylan Ababou led the Energy with 19 points on five of 13 shooting, while Miller, who had consistently chalked up double digits, was held to five points. Seigle finished with nine points.

The Energy, who were looking for a share of the lead with Rain Or Shine (5-1), fell to 4-2.

The scores:

ALASKA 93—Thoss 27, Baracael 16, Tenorio 15, Baguio 10, Dela Cruz 9, Reyes 8, Cablay 8, Custodio 0, Eman 0.

BARAKO 72—Ababou 19, Allado 11, Salvacion 10, Seigle 9, Artadi 6, Miller 5, Salvador 4, Pena 4, Pennisi 2, Arboleda 2, Sorongon 0, Avenido 0.

Quarters: 18-17, 36-40, 61-54, 93-72