[ad_1]
By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
THE Alaska Aces did their top-four push in the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup a favor by winning over the Northport Batang Pier, 95-85, on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Needing to win their final game of the elimination round to strengthen their hold of landing in the top four and earn a twice-to-beat edge in the quarterfinals, the Aces (8-3) did so but not after being made to sweat by the also-rans but nonetheless gritty Batang Pier (2-9).
The Aces sped to an early 7-2 lead to set the pace of the contest.
Northport though would stop the lead from ballooning outright, answering with a 9-4 run, led by Stanley Pringle, to level the count at 11-all with 4:35 remaining in the first quarter.
Alaska would then reestablish control for the remainder of the frame, holding a 24-15 advantage at the end of the opening quarter.
The Batang Pier kept pushing back to start the second period, levelling things anew at 34-all at the 4:35 mark.
They would ride the momentum after with import Rashad Woods at the helm of the attack, racing to a 47-41 lead at the halfway juncture of the match.
Sensing they allowed the Batang Pier to have their way in the second period, the Aces came out with more bite to begin the third.
Alaska opened things with a 9-0 blast, led by JV Casio and import Mike Harris, to overtake Northport, 50-47, with three minutes lapsing.
A back-and-forth between the two teams followed after.
The score stood at 53-51 with Alaska holding a slim lead with 5:37 left in the period.
When the quarter smoke cleared, the Aces continued to be on top, 64-62.
The two teams jostled hard at the start of the fourth quarter, hoping to make a strong push to take cue from.
Mr. Woods and Mo Tautuaa would lead Northport in building a 78-75 advantage with 5:30 to go in the game.
Mr. Casio then levelled the count at 78-all 30 seconds later with a triple before Mr. Harris, Kevin Racal and Vic Manuel conspired for eight points more to make it 86-78 in favor of the Aces by the three-minute mark.
From there Alaska would not look back as it went on to bring home the win.
Mr. Harris led Alaska with 27 points and 25 rebounds while Chris Banchero had 15 markers.
Mr. Woods top-scored for Northport with 33 points to go along with 13 rebounds.
Mr. Pringle backstopped him with 15 points.
“Our owner (Fred Uytengsu) delivered a powerful message at the half, underscoring that we should not allow all our efforts in the tournament go to waste. That did it for us and the players responded in the second half,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton after their win as he talked about what turned things around for them in the game.
[ad_2]
Source link
