Rain or Shine, Alaska dispute top spot in PBA

Games today

Araneta Coliseum

5:15 p.m.- Meralco vs. Petron

7:30 p.m.- Alaska vs. Rain or Shine

IT CAME DOWN to the game’s final possession before the Alaska Aces edged out the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in their first encounter almost two months ago.

Expect a more thrilling battle when the Aces and Painters collide once more in a battle of co-leaders in tonight’s main game of the 38th PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

Tied at the number one spot with 8-3 (win-loss) records, the two squads are expected to go all-out to get a victory since a win will increase their chances of earning a twice-to-beat edge in the playoffs.

Alaska nosed out Rain or Shine, 83-81, in their Feb. 9 meeting. The Aces sealed the come-from-behind win by scoring five straight points in the final 10 seconds.

Rookie Calvin Abueva first knocked in a game-tying triple then blocked Rain or Shine’s seven-foot-three import Bruno Sundov in the next play. Cyrus Bagio capped off the frenetic finish with a buzzer-beating layup, lifting the Aces to the two-point victory.

Rain or Shine is aching to get even, especially that they complained that Sundov was fouled when he was smothered by Abueva.

The Painters have won their last two games, highlighted by a 94-83 win over the Air21 Express last Sunday.

Alaska will come into the game with fresh legs as they haven’t played since scoring a 92-84 win over the Petron Blaze Boosters last March 27. The Boosters try to bounce back from that defeat when they play the Meralco Bolts in the first game./EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CALVIN D. CORDOVA