Express nip Aces
The Air21 Express nailed their third straight victory via a down-the-wire, 104-103 win over the skidding Alaska Aces last night in the 38th PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Express squandered several double-digit leads but made big plays down the stretch to salvage their fourth win in nine games.
The Aces, who, a few weeks ago, were the talk of the town for putting up five straight victories, succumbed to their third straight setback and fifth overall to drop to 5-5 (win-loss).
The Express went up by as many as 17 points, once in the second period and once in the third. They were still cruising in the fourth, posting a 10-point lead, 88-78, in the 10:53 mark of the final canto.
Alaska launched repeated rallies and its perseverance finally paid off when rookie Calvin Abueva completed a rare four-point play and Mac Baracael canned a three-pointer that knotted the score at 100-all with 2:05 left.
The Aces even saw themselves go up by two points, 102-100, when Abueva completed a putback off his own missed dunk in a fastbreak play. Former Alaska stalwart Bonbon Custodio tied the game again at 102-all after scoring underneath following a loose ball battle in the final 1:30.
Alaska seemed poised to completing its comeback when Cyrus Baguio made a split free throw for a, 103-102 Alaska lead time down to 23.2 seconds.
The Express, however, didn’t panic with new recruit Mike Cortez and Mark Isip conspiring in a crucial offensive play.
Cortez drove the lane but was met by the defense while airborne forcing him to issue a drop pass to Isip, who nailed a short stab to give the Express a one-point lead with 6.1 seconds left.
Air21 then put the needed defensive stop in the next play with Cortez forcing JVee Casio to air-ball a three-point shot. Abueva collared the offensive rebound but his putback attempt went awry as time ran out.
Six Air21 players scored in double figures with KG Canaleta leading the way with 21 points. Baracael topped the Aces with 24 markers, while Abueva added 17.
BOX SCORES
AIR21 (104)- Canaleta 21, Wilson 13, Isip 12, Cortez 12, Sena 11, Custodio 11, Omolon 9, Baclao 7, Reyes 6, Arboleda 2, Atkins 0.
ALASKA (103)- Baracael 24, Abueva 17, Espinas 16, Reys 8, Casio 8, Jazul 7, Thoss 7, Hontiveros 6, Baguio 5, Eman 3, Laure 2, Dela Cruz 0. QUARTERSCORES: 34-20, 61-48, 84-76, 104-103.
