Kings arrest skid, tie Bolts Aces take power off Energy Cola

Games tomorrow (MOA Arena)

5:30 – Skills Challenge

8 p.m. – Gilas Pilipinas vs PBA All Stars

Standings            W            L

Talk n Text          7              0

San Miguel Beer 5            2

Alaska                   4              3

San Mig Coffee 3              2

Air21                      3              3

Rain or Shine      3             3

Meralco               3              4

Ginebra                3              4

Barako Bull          2              5

Globalport          0              7 

MANILA, Philippines - Alaska Milk pulled a first three-game run since sweeping Barangay Ginebra in the last second conference finale as the Aces outfought the Barako Bull Energy Cola, 78-71, in a rugged, low-scoring game last night to move up to third place in the PLDT Home TVolution PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

Later in the night, new Barangay Ginebra import Josh Powell focused on the role he’s supposed to play and, with more local involvement, the Gin Kings checked a two-game slide with an 88-78 win over the Meralco Bolts.

 With Powell playing in place of Leon Rodgers, the Gin Kings rotated the ball a lot more as evidenced by their balanced scoring and improved number in assists.

Powell debuted with 16 points and 15 rebounds while Chris Ellis, Greg Slaughter, Mark Caguioa, LA Tenorio and Josh Urbiztondo contributed double-digit outputs as the Kings caught up with the Bolts at seventh place at 3-4. The Aces continued to thrive on a tough, physical halfcourt game, making it three in a row following an 88-78 whipping of the Air21 Express and an 89-78 drubbing of the San Miguel Beermen.

Rob Dozier and his teammates played even tougher in this game, holding the Energy Cola – the league’s second best scoring team – way below their average of 97.8 points a game.

“We forced them to a run-and-gun, ugly, physical, defensive, halfcourt type of game. That’s our game,” said Alaska coach Luigi Trillo.

“We put up another good defensive job. I’m just so proud of Gabby (Espinas) and Calvin (Abueva). They played a sort of Mr. Wilfred Uytensu kind of work ethic. Kinuha talaga nila sa tyaga,” Trillo also said.

Espinas and Abueva stood out with their gang-ho performance, limiting in particular the effectiveness of Barako Bull import Joshua Dollard.

Alaska held Dollard to 26 points on 7-of-19 field shooting and the entire Barako team to 35.7-percent clip as the Aces handed the Energy Cola a fifth loss against two wins.

“It’s almost a moment-of-truth game. Had we lost, we would’ve dropped to seventh. We won and we moved up in the top four,” said Trillo.

Dozier once again worked silently but effectively, logging 18 points, 15 rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block.

As he waited for things to happen, he helped his teammates play better.

Espinas and Jvee Casio delivered 14 and 10 points, respectively.

, while Abueva put up nine makers and the same number of rebounds.

The three took charge as Dozier sat out precious minutes after picking up a fifth foul with 6:32 left to play.

Trailing by four, 26-30, at the half, the Aces seized control midway through the third quarter and hung tough to the end, overcoming Dollard’s 11-point binge late in the game.

Meanwhile, the 2014 PBA All Stars activities start today with the event’s official launch at the MOA Arena at 12 noon followed by a basketball clinic and a hospital visit under Alagang PBA program.

The All-Star Friday features the skills challenge and the Legends Game. The mid-season spectacle culminates Sunday with the highlight PBA All Star Game pitting Gilas Pilipinas versus a PBA selection.

NOTES: PBA Hall of Fame coach Tommy Manotoc watched last night’s Ginebra-Meralco game as he’s intrigued by Juno Sauler’s coaching. “I was impressed. He has the guts and the know-how. You combine the two, and you have something,” said Manotoc, particularly impressed by Sauler’s move in their previous game where they rallied from a big deficit with main men Leon Rodgers, Mark Caguioa and LA Tenorio on the bench. “He sends a message. Sometimes, you have to do it,” said Manotoc, a champion coach with San Miguel Beer, U/Tex and Crispa. “I did it with Crispa,” said Manotoc, remembering a particular game where he sat down stars Atoy Co, Philip Cezar and Abet Guidaben for Yoyoy Villamin, Padim Israel and Bai Cristobal.

The Scores:

First Game

ALASKA 78 – Dozier 18, Espinas 14, Casio 10, Abueva 9, Hontiveros 8, Jazul 6, Thoss 6, Manuel 4, Baguio 3, Reyes 0, Dela Cruz 0.

BARAKO 71 – Dollard 26, Pennisi 12, Miller 7, Isip 6, Miranda 6, Lastimosa 5, Fortuna 2, Buenafe 2, Peña 2, Wilson 1, Marcelo 0.

Quarterscores: 13-17, 26-30, 53-50, 78-71

Second Game

Ginebra 88 – Powell 16, Ellis 16, Slaughter 15, Caguioa 13, Tenorio 10, Urbiztondo 10, Aguilar 3, Helterbrand 3, Baracael 2, Mamaril 0.

Meralco 78 – Jackson 25, David 18, Dillinger 11, Hugnatan 9, Hodge 9, Caram 3, Al-Hussaini 2, Artadi 12, Ildefonso 0, Sena 0, Guevarra 0, Wilson 0, Mandani 0.

Quarterscores: 27-21; 44-40; 63-60; 88-78