ACES DUMP AIR21
Game today
Victorias City
6:30 p.m.- Talk ‘N Text vs. Rain or Shine
Second outing, second double-double performance.
Energetic rookie Calvin Abueva churned in another fine performance in his second game with Alaska as the Aces grounded the Air21 Express, 92-81, last night in the 38th PBA Phillipine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Alaska, which started the tournament with two straight losses, pocketed its third straight victory to tie the Meralco Bolts at the third spot on similar 3-2 (win-loss) slates.
Article continues after this advertisementNicknamed “The Beast”, Abueva tallied 12 points and 16 rebounds in his pro-league debut where Alaska nipped the Petron Blaze Boosters, 88-86.
Article continues after this advertisementLast night, the six-foot-one Abueva came off the bench to pile up 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Jvee Casio led the Alaska scorers with 19 points, while Cyrus Baguio and Dondon Hontiveros added 15 markers each.
Big man Sonny Thoss contributed 11 points for the Aces, who led from start to finish.
Hontiveros sparked Alaska’s strong start, scoring 10 of his total output in the opening period to lead the Aces to a, 26-17 lead.
Alaska led big from thereon and even posted two 21-point leads in the third period, the last was at 71-50 with 2:47 left before the final quarter.
The Express put up a little resistance in the fourth period when they cut the deficit to just nine, 70-79, but the Aces uncorked a 7-0 blast to restore a fat, 86-70 edge with 3:58 remaining.
The loss further pulled the Express down the standings as they absorbed their fourth straight debacle to drop to 1-5.
Former Alaska stalwarts Bonbon Custodio topped the Express with 20 points, KG Canaleta donated 16, while Mark Isip and Noy Baclao added 12 and 10, respectively.
BOX SCORES
ALASKA (92)- Casio 19, Abueva 16, Baguio 15, Hontiveros 15, Thoss 11, Espinas 8, Reyes 4, Jazul 2, Baracael 2, Laure 0, Dela Cruz 0.
AIR21 (81)- Custodio 20, Canaleta 16, Isip 12, Baclao 10, Wilson 7, Taha 6, Reyes 4, Omolon 4, Arboleda 2, Atkins 0, Sena 0, Escobal 0, Ritualo 0. QUARTERSCORES: 26-17, 50-33, 74-60, 92-81.
