Aces scrape past Batang Pier to finish elims with 11-3 mark
For the nth time this conference, the Alaska Aces pulled off another escape act.
Import Robert Dozier denied Gary David’s last-gasp attempt then the depleted Aces hung tough for a scrappy 93-92 victory over the reeling GlobalPort Batang Pier Friday night to sustain their charge in the PBA Commissioners Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
RELATED: Alaska on top of the standings
With the first twice-to-beat edge in the quarterfinals already in the bag, Alaska appeared complacent in the early goings and even trailed by 15 points in the third, only to mightily fight back in the fourth and preserve the hard-earned win with another key defensive stop.
The victory, coming on the heels of an equally thrilling 102-93 against erstwhile streaking Barangay Ginebra last Wednesday, was the fourth consecutive and 11th overall in 14 outings for the Aces, giving them enough confidence going to the quarterfinals.
Five Alaska players, led by Dozier’s 18 points, tallied at least 11 markers, enough to overcome the absence of starters Sonny Thoss and Cyrus Baguio.
Although already out of the playoff picture as early as last Saturday, the Batang Pier stretched the Aces to the limit and nearly pulled off a big stunner behind David, but Dozier and Co. wouldn’t be denied.
The 6-foot-2 David tallied a game-high 29 points, his last three off free throws that moved GlobalPort within 92-93 with 26 seconds left, but GlobalPort still absorbed its 10th straight setback and 11th overall against two wins.
MVP: With the Aces on the verge of a stunning loss, RJ Jazul stepped up to the plate and provided the needed spark.
Coming off the bench, the former Letran gunner emerged as the unlikely source of production for the Aces, racking up 11 big points while igniting the Aces’ decisive 32-8 turnaround bridging the third and fourth cantos.
Jazul went on to finish with 14 markers, four rebounds, as many steals and three rebounds, underscoring the quality plays he gave as starting playmaker JVee Casio cooled his heels on the bench.
X-Factor: GlobalPort came close to catch a big fish in Alaska but the 6-foot-9 Dozier had other things in mind.
Fairly quiet offensively with just 18 points capped by a dunk that gave the Aces a four-point cushion, the former Memphis Tiger stood out in the game’s most crucial play, swatting the potentially go-ahead basket of a driving David and leaving the Batang Pier frustrated with another stinging setback.
Game Turning Point: After a Jaypee Belencion trey gave GlobalPort a commanding 72-57 lead, Jazul and the Aces fought back with a blinding 32-8 onslaught, including 14 unanswered points connecting the final two periods.
RELATED: Aces clinch top spot, end Gin Kings' run
The Batang Pier, however, unfurled a last-ditch behind David and closed in on at 92-93 with 26 seconds left but the Aces held on.
Quotable Quotes:
“I’ll take the win. A win is a win. We had stretches where we’re solid and stretches where we turn the ball over. It’s a no-bearing game for us so our sharpness and focus is questionable today,” stated Trillo.
ALASKA (93) – Dozier 18, Abueva 17, Jazul 14, Casio 11, Hontiveros 11, Espinas 8, Dela Cruz 8, Belasco 4, Ramos 2, Reyes 0, Eman 0, Laure 0.
GLOBALPORT (92) – David 29, Morgan 17, Lingganay 8, Belencion 7, Juntilla 7, Aljamal 7, Aguilar 5, Miller 5, Salvador 4, Deutchman 3, Mandani 0, Yee 0.
Quarterscores: 22-18; 45-46; 66-72; 93-92.
SLIDESHOW OF THE GAME:
