Aces enjoy tormenting RP aspirants

Alaska Milk completed a double against the national training pool, blasting RP Hapee last night to move back in strong contention for a twice-to-beat incentive in the Samsung PBA Governors Cup quarterfinals.

Muntrell Dobbins made a smashing farewell performance in the country’s premiere pro league, unleashing a solid all-around game to lead Alaska to a 68-61 win over RP Hapee at the Makati Coliseum.

The Aces, who nipped the other half of the national training pool, 56-52, in the same venue last Feb. 21, drew level with RP Hapee at fifth place on identical 4-3 win-loss records as they checked their two-game slump with Dobbins stepping up his game ironically in his final game with the team.

"I’m so proud of him. He played his heart out although he knew it’s already his last game with us. He wanted to go out on a good note," said Alaska coach Tim Cone of Dobbins who will be replaced with James Head.

"It’s kind of a mutual thing. He has problem with his knee and he badly need to rest it," added Cone.

Dobbins scored a game-high 19 points and pulled down 11 rebounds while also providing the muscles to match up with the big mainstays of RP Hapee.

"We’re lucky there’s Dobbins and our other big guys, we’re able to match up with the Philippine team size-wise. We played a good defense against a team which has been playing well. The national pool has been playing so well," Cone added.

Indeed, the Aces played an efficient defense but they used two clutch three-pointers at endgame to finish off the national hopefuls.

The count was tied at 59-all when Ron Riley and Rodney Santos banged in back-to-back treys, giving the Aces a 65-59 lead entering the final minute of the game.

The RP aspirants narrowed the gap to 61-65 on two free throws by Marlou Aquino and had a chance to narrow the gap following a missed jumper by Riley. But RP Hapee wasted the opportunity with Johnny Abarrientos failing to control an outlet pass by Rudy Hatfield.

The two teams fought through a seesaw battle early on although RP Hapee was still badly depleted minus Danny Ildefonso, Danny Seigle and Mick Pennisi.