Jay R. Gotera
MANILA — Calvin Abueva shifted to beast mode, exploding for a career-high 29 points on top of 14 boards and four assists to lead the Alaska Aces to a scary 103-101 victory over the decimated but hard-fighting GlobalPort Batang Pier Saturday night in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Not even a twisted ankle suffered in the first quarter could stop Abueva from imposing his will against the Batang Pier who found a gem of a new import in Shawn Taggart. Playing his first game in the PBA, the 6’9” American center finished with 36 points and 16 rebounds.
Import Shane Edwards also sparkled for Alaska, finishing with 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting, on top of 11 rebounds, four blocks, two assists, and two steals in 39 minutes.
Vic Manuel added 12 points while Chris Exciminiano chipped in 10. Alaska thus firmed up its grip of the top spot in team standings with its fifth win in six games.
GlobalPort, on the other, fell to the bottom of the heap, as it suffered its fifth loss in seven games.
The Batang Pier played with a huge handicap as their dynamic duo of Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle remained sidelined by injuries.
Jeric Fortuna and Paolo Taha replaced the two injured stars in the starting lineup and stepped up in their absence as they finished with 11 points apiece.
Taha gave GlobalPort its last taste of the lead at 94-93 with a three-pointer from the left wing with 3:31 left. Alaska responded with Manuel scoring on a reverse and Abueva converting two free throws as the Aces regained the lead en route to victory.
Star 91, Phoenix 75
The Star Hotshots dropped a 17-0 bomb in the third quarter to spark a come-from-behind 91-75 victory over the Phoenix Fuel Masters.
The Hotshots thus nailed their first back-to-back wins since Jason Webb took over as coach at the start of the season. Their third win in seven outings also lifted Star from the bottom of the pack, taking solo ninth place in the team standings.
The Fuel Masters absorbed their fourth loss in six games, tying the Tropang TNT Texters at 10th to 11th place.
Import Ricardo Ratliffe shook off early foul trouble to lead the Hotshots, sparking the huge Star rally in the third quarter that turned the game around. He finished with a team-high 21 points and 17 boards.
PJ Simon complemented Ratliffe with 17 points, 11 of them in the fourth quarter.
James Yap added 13.
Phoenix was led by its import Kevin Pinkney who posted 21 points and 15 rebounds. Chico Lanete and JC Intal added 12 and 10 markers, respectively in a losing effort.
Games Sunday: NLEX Road Warriors (3-3) vs. Tropang TNT (2-4) and Blackwater Elite (3-3) vs. Barangay Ginebra Kings (3-3).
