Games today:
Araneta Coliseum
4:15 p.m.- Alaska vs. Barako Bull
6:30 p.m.- Barangay Ginebra vs. Petron
TWO TEAMS who are off to a good start fight for the solo lead as the Alaska Aces tangle with the Barako Bull Energy Colas in the first game of today’s twinbill of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Aces and the Energy Colas are the only unbeaten teams left in the 10-team field, sharing the number one spots with identical 2-0 (win-loss) records.
The teams’ early success is mainly because of the strong showing of their imports.
Robert Dozier tallied 21 points, 16 rebounds, three blocks, an assist and a steal in Alaska’s 83-81 escape against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters last Feb 9.
Alaska followed up that win with an 85-81 victory of the Meralco Bolts, where the six-foot-nine Dozier piled up 27 points, 14 rebounds, six blocked shots, one steal and an assist.
The Energy Colas started their campaign with a 79-75 win over the import-less San Mig Coffe Mixers.
Evan Brock had a solid 18-point, 12-rebound performance in that win.
Brock was equally solid when Barako Bull notched a second straight, a 98-88 win over Globaport Batang Pier in a game where the Energy Colas wiped out a 10-point deficit in the final two minutes. Brock finished that game with 25 markers and 18 boards.
In the main game, the Barangay Ginebra Kings look to finally barge into the win column against sister-team Petron Blaze Boosters.
The Kings are off to a 0-2 start, while the Boosters split their first two matches for an even 1-1 slate.
Meanwhile, the Elasto Painters banked on a torrid 17-0 run in the endgame to defeat the Bolts, 91-82, in their out-of-town game last night Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
The win was Rain or Shine’s first in two outings, while Meralco fell to 1-2. /EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CALVIN D. CORDOVA