Alaska keeps Air21 winless

ALASKA PULLED away in the third period and then turned to Cyrus Baguio in the homestretch as the Aces kept the Air21 Express winless with an 98-84 decision last night in the 36th PBA Governors’ Cup at The Arena in San Juan.

Baguio fired a team-high 19 points and scored seven straights points in a crucial run as the Aces made it two-in-a-row after starting the tournament with two straight defeats.

Former Air21 import Jason Forte contributed 18 points, while Wesley Gonzales, also an ex-Air21 stalwart, donated 13.

Sonny Thoss added 15 points for the Aces, who also got at least six points each from Mark Borboran, Tony Dela Cruz, LA Tenorio and Jay-arr Reyes—the third former Express in the Alaska team.

The two squads figured in a low-scoring first half battle with the Aces taking a 37-33 lead at the bend.

The Aces, however, nearly matched their first half output in the third by scoring a whopping 31 points, allowing them to erect a sizable 68-55 lead, heading into the final period.

Alaska led by 12, 75-63, when the Express uncorked a 7-0 run to move with in 70-75 with 4:30 left.  Baguio then caight fire, canning in a three-pointer and completing an acrobatic layup as the Aces restored an 80-70 lead with 5:45 left.

After a basket by Air21 import Alpha Bangura, Baguio dropped two free throws and Gonzales drilled in a triple to seal it for the Aces, who took an 85-72 advantage with only two minutes to play.

Bangura finished with 20 points, KG Canaleta and Carlos Sharma both had 16 markers for the Express, who are now facing the specter of early elimination with their fourth loss in as many games.  /EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CALVIN D. CORDOVA