IN a game it can’t afford to lose, Alaska battled back from a listless start and stunned NLEX 93-79 yesterday to forge a knockout match in their quarterfinals duel in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
New import Mark St. Fort, who replaced Olu Ashaolu (assortment of injuries), led a balanced attack with 17 points, to go with 14 rebounds and two assists and got the much-needed support from the locals.
Jeron Teng chipped in 16 markers, six boards, and three dimes, while Abu Tratter and Mike Tolomia added 12 and 10 points, respectively for the Aces, who negated the Road Warriors’ twice-to-beat advantage and redeemed themselves from a 99-104 loss to Phoenix Super LPG last March 4.
Bidding the league goodbye for good at the end of the conference, the Aces will clash anew with the Road Warriors this Saturday, with the winner advancing to the semis.
There’s still a lot of fight and pride left on the Aces, according to coach Jeff Cariaso.
“We didn’t want it to be our last game so what makes it harder compared to the announcement (that the team is disbanding) is that it’s kind of closer to seeing what the end could possibly be so mas malapit tayo doon,” Cariaso said. “That is a challenge and motivation all on its own, so we tried to use that to motivate us even more. . . for us to focus even more, for us to be ready even more and to play together even more. Hats off to the guys. Everyone who stepped on the court came out ready today.”
Cariaso added defense and playing with more grit were some of the adjustments the squad did on its way to the big win.
“Honestly during those early stages, the emphasis was strictly on our defense, so I think our mental approach on how we were trying to play early was focusing only on offense. So, sabi namin we had to get back our defense and understand our defensive schemes and be more physical,” Cariaso said.
“I think when we became more physical defensively, we were moving our feet better, we were not giving easy fouls, it allowed our offense to be a little bit easier.”
NLEX took a 32-16 lead on Cameron Clark’s free throw at the 10:05 mark of the second quarter but Alaska went on a telling 24-6 blitz capped by a Teng layup that gave the Aces a 40-38 edge at the half.
With Tolomia joining hands with Teng and Maverick Ahanmisi, Alaska enjoyed a 64-55 spread going into the fourth canto.
The Aces hardly met resistance in the final stanza and stretched the difference to as much as 91-75 on a Kevin Racal basket with 1:22 to play.
Clark, who took over from KJ McDaniels, paced the Road Warriors with 25 points and 16 rebounds, while Kevin Alas and Don Trollano combined for 29.
