Jay R. Gotera
Saudi Gazette
MANILA — With eight players scoring in double digits, the Alaska Aces showed team basketball at its finest as they dismantled the GlobalPort Batang Pier, 123-104, Friday night in the PBA Philippine Cup.
Having fully rested for more than a week after back-to-back games in Dubai where they won one (against Mahindra) and lost the other (Ginebra), the Aces appeared in tip-top shape and oozing with energy, quickly racing to a 16-point lead, 30-14, in the first quarter and never looking back.
Their fourth win in five games allowed the Aces to tie the San Miguel Beermen at the top of the standings.
GlobalPort absorbed its second defeat in five outings and slid into a tie for fourth to seventh place following the NLEX victory against Talk N Text in the main game. All three teams plus Barako Bull all sport a 3-2 win-loss card.
Cyrus Baguio led the Aces with 17 points while Vic Manuel posted 16 markers, eight rebounds, and three steals. RJ Jazul, Chris Banchero, and Sonny Thoss all had 14 points. Eric Menk added 12 while Calvin Abueva and JVee Casio chipped in 11 and 10, respectively.
Gilas Pilipinas star Terrence Romeo led the Batang Pier with 33 points, five assists, and three rebounds.
His backcourt partner Stanley Pringle, the main target of the Alaska defense, added 16 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. Pringle, a back-to-back Player of the Week awardee, was averaging 22.3 points in his first four games.
The Aces shot a sizzling 51 percent (47-of-93) from the floor as they registered the biggest points total by any team in the season-opening conference, eclipsing their own feat when they scored 114 in their opening game against Talk N Text.
NLEX Road 107, Talk N Text 101
Sean Anthony exploded for 32 points and 12 rebounds against his former team as the NLEX Road Warriors came from behind to stun the Talk N Text Tropang Texters, 107-101.
Rookie Simon Enciso also shone for NLEX, finishing with 19 points.
Asi Taulava was his usual monster in the paint, posting 18 points and 18 boards while Jonas Villanueva added 10 markers, including back-to-back three-pointers in the endgame that broke the backs of the Texters. Villanueva also had a team-high six assists. The Road Warriors thus notched their third win in five games while pulling down the Texters to their second defeat against three wins.
Rookie Troy Rosario led the Texters with 20 points and 7 rebounds. Larry Fonacier added 18 points while Danny Seigle and Jayson Castro chipped in 17 and 15, respectively. Rookie center Moala Tautua chimed in 11 markers.
Games Saturday: Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (3-1) vs. Blackwater Elite (1-3) and Meralco Bolts (0-5) vs. Star Hotshots (2-3).
