Alaska nips Tigers, wins Charter Day Cup

CEBU, Philippines - Defending Commissioner’s Cup champion Alaska Aces tripped the Tagoloan Tigers, 96-86, to claim the title in the final day of the 2014 Cebu City Charter Day Cup Invitational Basketball tournament last night at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Aces were unbeaten in all three of their games. They defeated GlobalPort Batang Pier in their opening game, 87-79 last Friday, followed by a 79-70 victory over Talk N’ Text Tropang Texters last Saturday at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Center.

It was a tight battle from the outset resulting into a 62-all deadlock at the end of the third canto.

But Alaska of coach Luigi Trillo kept their composure to take a comfortable 74-67 lead at the 8:09 of the final period.

Tigers fought back with their fast-break plays and three-point shots led by Ian Saladaga and Ferdinand Lusdoc that trimmed the lead down to three, 80-77.

Alaska finally took control of the game when center Sonny Thoss scored eight of his 17 points in the final five minutes of the game, while Calvin Abueva and Gabby Espinas hits their lay-up that sealed the win for the Aces

6-foot-9 import Robert Dozier led Alaska with 20 points, while Calvin Abueva churned out 10 points.

Cameroonian Jan Epouma carried the offensive load for the Tagoloan Tigers with 17 points followed by Ferdinand Lusdoc, Patrick Cabahug and Ian Saladaga with 11 markers each.

The Scores:

Alaska (96)- Dozier 20, Thoss 17, Abueva 10, Espinas 9, Ramos 8, Jazul 6, Exciminiano 6, Dela Cruz 4, Bugia 3, Baguio 3, Belasco 2

Tagoloan Tigers (86)- Epouma 17, Lusdoc 11, Cabahug 11, Saladaga 11, Manzo 8, Daa 6, Aguilar 5, Daa 2 (FREEMAN)