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Aces clinch top spot, end Gin Kings' run

Alaska's JVee Casio fakes off Ginebra's LA Tenorio. (PBA Images)

Not even a rampaging Barangay Ginebra could stop the Alaska  Aces.

The Aces squandered a big 14-point lead but mustered enough goods in the crunch to hold off the feisty Gin Kings, 102-93, Wednesday night and formally secure the first twice-to-beat quarterfinals incentive in the PBA Commissioners Cup at the packed Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

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After wasting a 55-41 halftime edge in the face of Ginebra’s ferocious fightback, Alaska reeled off a decisive 16-7 wind-up en route to its third straight win and 10th overall against three losses.

The Gin Kings, who leaned mainly on import Vernon Macklin and ace playmaker LA Tenorio in the second half, fizzled out in the crunch and eventually saw their six-game winning surge snap, dropping to fourth in the company with sister team San Mig Coffee at 7-6.

Import Robert Dozier valiantly held his fort against the 6-foot-10 Macklin with a game-high of 28 points, 11 coming in the pivotal canto, plus 20 rebounds while getting enough support from his local teammates.

Cyrus Baguio, having a fairly quiet game of 13 points, hit the go-ahead fall-away jumper over the 5-foot-8 Tenorio, igniting the Aces’ 10 unanswered points for a considerable 96-86 lead with 58.3 seconds left.

The gutsy win also marked the first time in 14 years that Alaska will finish the eliminations of an import-laden conference at No. 1.

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After struggling in the first half, Macklin fully rediscovered his bearings, pumping 10 in the Gin Kings’ 16-to-nothing run to start the third, only to run out of steam in the crunch.

According to resident league statistician Fidel Mangonon III, the game lured 15,133 fans, the third-biggest this conference.
 
MVP: One of the most underrated imports, Dozier is fast-earning a second look.
Tasked to shadow the bigger Macklin, Dozier struggled in the third canto but saved his best for last. Proving he still got a lot of juice left as the game got tighter, the former Memphis Tiger came up big in the fourth, throwing his weight around his Gin King defenders and scoring 11 decisive points.
 
X-Factor
: Super rookie Calvin Abueva had another double-double outing of 11 points and as many rebounds but it was Baguio who delivered a handful of key baskets for the Aces, hitting seven in the fourth while sparking the team’s strong finishing kick.
 
Game Turning Point: Despite losing an early 14-point spread, the Aces managed to keep their poise and composure in the face of the Gin Kings’ ‘never-say-die’ stance, shattering an 86-all count with a 10 straight points anchored on tough defense and precise execution.

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Quotable Quotes
: “Basketball is a game of runs. When we lost our lead, we just played smart and calmed down to weather the storm,” stated Dozier, who also corralled a game-high 20 rebounds, issued four assists and swatted two shots.
 
“We knew Ginebra was gonna make a run but somehow we survived. It doesn’t mean anything (win). It just gives us a twice-to-beat advantage. We’re growing as team. In this conference, it’s a collective effort. I feel we built a lot of confidence with the line up that we have,” said Alaska coach Luigi Trillo.
 
The scores:
 
ALASKA (102)
– Dozier 28, Baguio 13, Espinas 12, Abueva 11, Hontiveros 10, Casio 8, Thoss 8, Dela Cruz 6, Jazul 4, Ramos 2.

GINEBRA (93)
– Macklin 27, Tenorio 19, Baracael 16, Labagala 8, Raymundo 8, Hatfield 7, Espiritu 3, Ellis 2, Helterbrand 2, Taha 1, Jensen 0, Maierhofer 0, Wilson 0.
Quarterscores: 30-18; 55-41; 71-69; 102-93.

SLIDESHOW OF THE GAME: