Scrappy Aces push Warriors to the brink

Game today (Biñan, Laguna)

5 p.m. – Blackwater vs Talk n Text

Games tomorrow (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

3 p.m. – Ginebra vs Globalport

5:15 p.m. – Purefoods vs Rain or Shine

MANILA, Philippines - Alaska Milk, trailing most of the second half, pounced on NLEX’s endgame meltdown, carving out a 90-84 win to enhance its bid for an outright semifinal entry in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

Dondon Hontiveros came through with a crucial four-point play off Mark Borboran, touching off Alaska’s 14-2 closing flurry that carried the Aces to their eighth win against a solitary loss.

For the second straight time, NLEX blew away what had seemed to be a won ball game and bowed out of the race for a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals with a 3-6 win-loss slate.

The loss also imperilled the Road Warriors’ quarters bid. 

Kia will bump off NLEX for the last quarters slot if the Sorento win their last two games and the Road Warriors drop theirs. The two teams may dispute the last seat in a knockout setto on Dec. 7.

Meanwhile, Talk n Text seeks solo fourth place as it guns for its sixth win against three losses as the Tropang Texters tangle with winless tail-ender the Blackwater Elite in the Petron Blaze-sponsored road game in Biñan, Laguna at 5 p.m. today.

“Our scouting report showed that they’re the highest field-goal shooting team. Asi Taulava’s having double-double games, and guys like Jonas Villanueva and Macmac Cardona are playing very well. And so we had a lot of things in mind,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton.

In the nightcap, San Miguel Beer stayed abreast with Alaska after a dominant 88-77 victory over Meralco.

“It’s a good game for us considering I was expecting Meralco to impose their being veterans. They’re also loaded specially in the wings,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria.

“Coming in, we knew they’re a big defensive job for us. And we’re happy, in some ways, it’s similar to our Globalport game. The game went up and down. They (NLEX) had their chance, but in the end we won on our defense,” Compton added.

The Aces made their biggest stops at crunch time, frustrating the Road Warriors in the game where they led by 15 at one point at 56-41.

The Road Warriors looked well in control at 82-76 before ramming into a wall, going scoreless in the next two minutes of the game.

The Aces cashed in on the Road Warriors’ crucial misses and errors to zoom ahead at 88-82 before NLEX ended its dry spell on a garbage basket by Cardona with 10 ticks left.

“We held them to 39 percent shooting and we stopped them in the crunch. It made me so proud of the guys,” said Compton.

The Aces beat out the Road Warriors at endgame and negated career-best numbers produced by Borboran (22 points) and Cardona (14 rebounds).

Taulava was effectively neutralized, held down to 10 points and four rebounds.

Hontiveros top scored with 21 points, Calvin Abueva delivered double-double numbers with 16 points and 19 rebounds while Cyrus Baguio, Sonny Thoss and Jvee Casio added 11 points each for Alaska.

NOTES: PBA Hall of Famer Samboy Lim fell unconscious on the sideline moments after being substituted in an exhibition game at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig last night. Doctors at the Medical City were still trying to revive Lim at press time. “The game had just started. He (Lim) had played about five to six minutes and had just been subbed by Vince Hizon when he collapsed,” Bogs Adornado told The STAR.

The scores:

First Game

ALASKA 90 – Hontiveros 21, Abueva 16, Baguio 11, Thoss 11, Casio 11, Manuel 8, Jazul 7, Banchero 3, Exciminiano 2, Eman 0, Dela Rosa 0, Bugia 0, Menk 0, Dela Cruz 0.

NLEX 84 – Borboran 22, Cardona 14, Villanueva J. 13, Taulava 10, Villanueva E. 9, Arboleda 6, Ramos 4, Canaleta 2, Camson 2, Arboleda 2, Hermida 0, Raymundo 0, Apinan 0, Baloria 0.

Quarterscores: 23-15, 40-42, 55-58, 90-84

Second Game

SAN MIGUEL 88 – Fajardo 21, Pascual 15, Santos 15, Tubid 10, Mercado 8, Kramer 5, Maierhofer 4, Lutz 4, Omolon 4, Ross 2, Fortuna 0, Lassiter 0, Semerad 0, Chua 0.

MERALCO 77 – Hodge 19, Dillinger 13, Ildefonso 9, David 8, Macapagal 8, Anthony 7, Cortez 5, Buenafe 3, Wilson 2, Sena 2, Ferriols 1, Atkins 0, Caram 0, Guevarra 0.

Quarterscores: 22-24, 44-34, 72-59, 88-77