Aces trip Express, stretch streak to three

MANILA, Philippines — JVee Casio, practically just out of the hospital, scored 19 points and rookie Calvin Abueva had a second straight double-double as Alaska routed Air21, 92-81, for a third straight win Friday night in the PBA Philippine Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The 5-foot-8 Casio missed practice on Thursday because of a viral infection but still played 33 minutes and held the Aces together as Alaska rose to 3-2 overall while dealing the Express a fourth straight defeat in a 1-5 card.

“These are baby steps, and it’s nice,” Alaska coach Luigi Trillo said after his first three-game winning streak and the longest winning run for the Aces since July with Jason Forte.

But the Aces could end up paying a hefty price, after Cyrus Baguio, the team’s leading scorer and leader, was carried out of the court with 9:52 left after hyper-extending his right knee in a play that involved Casio.

“Cyrus has really been awesome for us,” Trillo said of Baguio, who still went on to finish with 15 points. “He will have an MRI (later) and hopefully it is not serious.”

In the second game, Arwind Santos had 29 points and 17 rebounds as Petron Blaze ripped Globalport, 110-98, on new coach Olsen Racela’s first day handling the team by himself.

Racela took over the reins of the squad after previously sharing duties with assistant coach Rajko Toroman and steered the Boosters to a 3-3 mark. The Batang Pier dropped to 1-5.

The Aces opened up leads of as many as 22 points early in the third, when Baguio hit a short jumper with 8:36 to go for 60-38.

Bon-Bon Custodio led the Express with 20 points, and KG Canaleta added 16.

Abueva, the second overall pick in the Draft who has given Alaska a totally different look, contributed 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Aces.

The scores:

First Game

ALASKA 92—Casio 19, Abueva 16, Baguio 15, Hontiveros 15, Thoss 11, Espinas 8, Reyes 4, Jazul 2, Baracael 2, Laure 0, Dela Cruz 0.

AIR21 81—Custodio 20, Canaleta 16, Isip 12, Baclao 10, Wilson 7, Taha 6, Reyes 4, Omolon 4, Arboleda 2, Atkins 0, Sena 0, Escobal 0, Ritualo 0.

Quarters: 26-17, 50-33, 74-60, 92-81

Second Game

PETRON 110—Santos 29, Lutz 16, Washington 16, Cabagnot 15, Miranda 10, Yeo 9, Pena 8, Lassiter 3, Mallari 2, Duncil 2, Sison 0.

GLOBALPORT 98—Manuel 23, Miller 15, Deutchman 14, Antonio 13, Vanlandingham 9, Mandani 8, Vergara 6, Al-Hussaini 4, Adducul 3, Yee 2, Guevarra 1.

Quarters: 30-27, 48-48, 76-68, 110-98