Aces ward off Warriors, clinch first playoff slot

Games today (MOA Arena)

3 p.m. – Mahindra vs Meralco

5:15 p.m. – San Miguel vs Star

MANILA, Philippines – Alaska Milk came out completely focused to play defense against NLEX, holding the Road Warriors way below their regular norm in a wire-to-wire 89-81 win that handed the Aces the first playoff berth in the Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

With a lockdown defense, the Aces made the Road Warriors bleed for a measly 52 points in the first three quarters for their least total output in a game in the conference – an effort carrying Alaska to an automatic playoff passage.

With a 6-1 win-loss card, the Aces have also gained the front-running spot in the fight for the Top Two that reward outright Final Four entry.

“We would love that. (Going through the quarterfinals) is a scary situation,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton.

“But we have to get better. We have tough games ahead. Last year, we finished tied on top with San Miguel Beer and Rain or Shine, but we missed automatic semis because of the quotient (tiebreak),” Compton recalled.

Last year, the magic number for the Top Two was nine wins.

Meanwhile, San Miguel Beer also guns for automatic playoff as it faces off with the Star Hotshots in a Petron Blaze Saturday Special at the MOA Arena.

Meralco and Mahindra virtually fight for survival as they square off in the 3 p.m. curtain raiser.

“We talked about the need to play with a defensive mindset. And I think we had it. We’re pretty solid defensively,” said Compton of their conquest of the Road Warriors.

For the record, no team was able to limit the Batang Pier below 90 points in their first six games in the all-Filipino tourney.

The Aces particularly neutralized Asi Taulava as Alaska relegated NLEX down to joint fifth with Barangay Ginebra at 4-3.

Averaging 20.3 points and 15.2 rebounds a game, the Fil-Tongan behemoth was held to only 10 markers and seven boards by the Aces.

NLEX found some rhythm in the fourth quarter but Alaska, on decisive plays by Dondon Hontiveros, Cyrus Baguio and Jvee Casio in the crunch, held on to nail a fourth straight win.

As the Road Warriors came to within four at 78-82, Casio drained a booming trey to ease the pressure on his team with less than two minutes to go.

Sonny Thoss top scored with 16 points with Vic Manuel and Rome dela Rosa adding 11 apiece and Calvin Abueva chipping in 10 in the game where Alaska led by as many as 20 at 62-42.

Rain or Shine dominated inside in the first half then struck heavily from afar in the second half as the Elasto Painters drubbed the Barako Bull Energy, 110-104, to tie the San Miguel Beermen at second at 5-1 later in the night.

“We’re trying to keep our momentum going to give ourselves a chance at the Top Two. We want to keep that alive,” said ROS coach Yeng Guiao.

Thoss and Abueva got away with double-double numbers with both snaring 10 rebounds.

Sean Anthony led the losing team with 21 points and nine rebounds.

The scores:

First Game

ALASKA 89 – Thoss 16, Dela Rosa 11, Manuel 11, Abueva 10, Menk 9, Banchero 6, Casio 5, Hontiveros 5, Baguio 4, Dela Cruz 4, Exciminiano 3, Jazul 3, Racal 2, Baclao 0.

NLEX 81 – Anthony 21, Villanueva E. 12, Taulava 10, Alas 9, Villanueva J. 9, Enciso 5, Reyes 5, Camson 4, Khobuntin 4, Cardona 2, Lanete 0, Arboleda 0, Apinan 0, Borboran 0.

Quarterscores: 23-15, 42-31, 68-51, 89-81

Second Game

RAIN OR SHINE 110 – Cruz 19, Chan 18, Ponferada 18, Norwood 13, Ahanmisi 11, Almazan 8, Belga 6, Quiñahan 5, Teng 4, Tiu 4, Nimes 2, Trollano 2, Ibañes 0, Matias 0.

BARAKO 104 – Garcia 23, Wilson 21, Urbiztondo 16, Monfort 9, Pennisi 8, Intal 7, Lanete 7, Miranda 7, Fortuna 6, Baracael 0, Brondial 0, Sorongon 0.

Quarterscores: 24-20, 49-41, 76-71, 110-104