Game today (Victorias, Negros Occidental)
6:30 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs Talk n Text
Games tomorrow (Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4:15 p.m. – Barako Bull vs San Mig Coffee
6:30 p.m. – Alaska vs Ginebra
MANILA, Philippines - Prized rookie Calvin Abueva delivered a second straight double-double game, helping Alaska Milk stretch its romp to three games with a dominant 92-81 victory over Air21 in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.
Jayvee Casio and Sonny Thoss also dished out remarkable efforts coming off the bench as the Aces continued to play a balanced game to post their longest streak in two years.
Abueva logged 16 points and 12 rebounds with Casio, Thoss, Cyrus Baguio and Dondon Hontiveros contributing double-digit outputs as the Aces bested their two-game performance in the last conference this early in the tournament.
Alaska caught up with Meralco at third place at 3-2 while sending Air21 deeper down the cellar at 1-5.
“It’s nice to have this run. The last time we had this was July 2010 when we had Jason Forte as import. It’s a baby step but it’s really nice to have it,” said Alaska coach Luigi Trillo.
The Aces surged past an Air21 side with an impeccable game they sustained despite the exit of Cyrus Baguio early in the fourth quarter due to injury.
“It’s a pity since he’s been awesome for us. He’s a steady force. He can’t walk and we’ll schedule him for MRI (magnetic resonance imaging test),” said Trillo of Baguio, who hurt his right knee in a collision with teammate Casio.
Meanwhile, in their first game with coach Olsen Racela in full control, the Petron Blaze Boosters drubbed the Globalport Batang Pier, 110-98, to hit the .500 mark at 3-3.
“This is practically my first game. The players gave me words of encouragement. They supported me and that meant a lot,” said Racela after the game.
Baguio, Alaska’s main man, had made 15 points, three rebounds, one assist and one block before being helped to the bench with 9:57 left to play.
After falling behind by as many as 22 at 38-60, the best Air21 could do was come within nine shortly after Baguio’s exit.
The Aces, however, quickly eased the pressure on clutch conversions by Casio, Mac Baracael and Sonny Thoss.
Though missing their practice Thursday due to a slight ailment, Casio put in a sterling job, pacing the Aces with 19 points that included three triples.
Bonbon Custodio led all scorers with 20 points while up against his former team.
Nino Canaleta, Mark Isip and Noy Baclao also produced double-digit outputs for the Express whose series of errors in the early going stymied their bid.
The Aces pounced on the Express’ miscues as they built an early huge lead at 40-22 and sat on a 50-33 cushion at halftime, scoring 21 off Air21’s turnovers.
The Express ended up with a total of 24 errors as against Alaska’s 13.