ACES DOWN BOLTS

Game today

Tacloban City

6:45 p.m.- Air21 (1-1) vs. B-Meg (2-2)

The Alaska Aces took off to a blistering start last night and was never really challenged in pulling off a, 98-90 victory over the Meralco Bolts in the 37th PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Alaska dominated the contest right from the get go. It reeled off a 6-0 run to start the game and sustained its strong start to break the game wide open by roaring to a huge 23-6 lead.

Meralco dug a deeper hole for themselves in the second period when it failed to score in the first five minutes of the quarter, enabling Alaska to lead by as many as 25 points.

Meralco’s first fieldgoal in the second period came at the 7:18 mark courtesy of a Mark Cardona three-pointer. The Bolts had some mini runs but couldn’t put up one big rally to turn the game around.

Cyrus Baguio scored 18 points to pace Alaska which tallied its third win in five games.

Earl Barron tallied a game-high 26 points but remained winless as a Meralco import. The Bolts endured their third straight setback to drop to 1-4 (win-loss).

TACLOBAN SWING TODAY

Meanwhile, two teams looking to get back on track collide today as the B-Meg Llamados go up against the Air21 Express in an out-of-town game in Tacloban City.

The Llamados chalked up two straight wins to start the tournament but suddenly struggled and absorbed two straight defeats.

The Express also started the season with a victory but dropped their last assignment against the Petron Blaze Boosters, 88-102.

Air21’s first win—a 97-88 trashing of the Barako Bull Energy—was extra important as the team finally tasted a win after losing all of its 14 games in the previous conference.