Aces outlast Kings, clinch playoff spot

MANILA, Philippines -- Behind a crucial flurry at the finish, Philippine Cup runner-up Alaska Milk pulled of a decisive 104-98 victory over Barangay Ginebra that carried the Aces all the way to a sixth place finish at the close of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup elimination round at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.

Dondon Hontiveros and Damion James conspired for a key play in the last four seconds capping a crucial 7-2 windup that not just sealed Alaska’s playoff entry but handed the Aces a berth in the best-of-three quarterfinals versus the Purefoods Star Hotshots.

Alaska’s six-point winning margin over Ginebra relegated the Barako Bull Energy and the Gin Kings to seventh and eighth spots, respectively.

Being the playoffs lowest seeds, Barako Bull and Ginebra face tall odds in the quarters, needing to win two in a row to make the semifinals. The Energy will be up against the second seeded Talk n Text Tropang Texters while the Gin Kings will be ranged against the top seed Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

Playoff play begins tomorrow at the Big Dome with the openers of the best-of-three series between NLEX and Meralco, and Purefoods opposite Alaska.

“I’m grateful we made the playoff, even making the best-of-three series instead of playing an opponent with a twice-to-beat advantage,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton.

“It’s incredible road ahead, but what’s important is that our guys gave us life,” Compton added.

James piled up 29 points and 14 rebounds, and Hontiveros and Calvin Abueva also came through with big games as they clinched the last playoffs berth and eliminated the Globalport Batang Pier.

The Aces blew away a 10-point lead in the last seven minutes of the game but recovered and unleashed a finishing kick that had them topping the Energy and the Gin Kings in the quotient tiebreak. They ended up with identical 5-6 win-loss records.

San Miguel, Globalport and Kia finished a game behind at 4-7. Upon the application of the quotient in their own deadlocks, the Beermen, the Batang Pier and the Carnival finished ninth, 10th and 11th, respectively.

Pushing themselves the hardest they could in a game they could afford to lose, the Blackwater Elite earned some more solace in their short-lived Commissioner’s Cup stint in blasting the Meralco Bolts, 84-72, earlier in the night.

Marcus Douthit logged 27 points and 14 rebounds while JP Erram added a career high 21 markers as the Elite topped the Bolts to come through with a 3-8 record in the middle-season tourney, a minor breakthrough after a winless showing in the Philippine Cup.

“Going into this game, though eliminated, we wanted to continue gaining more experience and learning more,” said Blackwater coach Leo Isaac.

“I told the players to give their 100 percent, give their very best. It’s a part of a building process we’re undergoing. Hopefully, we continue to improve,” added Isaac.

Though again ending up dead last in the 12-team field, Isaac and his troops earned some measure respect with victories over San Miguel Beer (80-77), Kia (115-104) and Meralco.

The Elite can be more competitive in the Governors Cup as they’re still allowed to sign an import of unlimited height.

Kia, Barako Bull and Globalport are the other team allowed to play with an import without height restriction. The top eight, based on the cumulative win-loss records in the elimination rounds of the first two conference, are limited to imports with a 6-foot-5 ceiling.

Isaac said they’re considering to bring back Douthit after his stint with the Gilas cadet team in the SEABA championship and in the SEA Games.

“I understand our team is trying to make an arrangement with the PBA concerning our schedule. Baka pwedeng pagkatapos na ng laro ni Douthit with Gilas,” said Isaac.

The amiable Blackwater coach, however, said they’re considering other names.

Isaac said they’re also considering a Middle-Eastern player as their Asian import in the Governors Cup.

Reil Cervantes put up a decent job in his Blackwater debut helping the Elite get past the Bolts who ended up joint fourth with the NLEX Road Warriors at 6-5.

The Bolts and the Road Warriors figure in a best-of-three pairing in the quarterfinals.

“We got a good deal with Kia involving Cervantes. He played for us in the PBA D-League. Hindi na siya iba sa amin. He’s been an underrated player for quite sometime. We hope he can blossom with us,” said Isaac.