Alaska outshines Ginebra to complete playoffs cast

MANILA, Philippines – Days after Barangay Ginebra San Miguel survived an end game collapse against the San Miguel Beermen, their lackluster 4th period performance crept back up on them once again against the Alaska Aces. 

With less than 3 minutes to play, Dylan Ababou found some playing time as the Gin Kings were already down by 19 huge points, 76-57. He lined up a three-pointer which missed the mark as Mark Caguioa rose high for a tip-in, braving Alaska’s frontline.  

For a second the ball teetered on the edge of the rim. But the Aces’ defense had done enough to weaken Caguioa’s shot as the ball finally fell out and Alaska ran back down the other end, with Gabby Espinas posting up and scoring for a 21-point lead, 78-57, that the Aces would never relinquish.  

That was the kind of night Ginebra endured at the hands of the Aces, who put on tremendous effort on defense to come up with 79-66 win for a 4-4 slate and complete the top 8 playoffs-bound teams in the 2014 PLDT Home Telpad PBA Governors’ Cup on Friday, June 13 at the Mall of Asia Arena. 

The Aces won this game purely on defense as they made up for their massive 51-point humiliation at the hands of Rain or Shine a little over a week ago.  

“I like the fact that we didn’t shoot too well from the field and we still won,” Alaska head coach Alex Compton pointed out. “We needed a defensive win. I think a lot of our wins have been offensive.”

Alaska shot only 39% from the field and still won this game by forcing Ginebra to shoot just a tad bit lower than them at 38.5%.  

He added: “The fact that we shot 39% and still won the game, I think that’s a good character win for us. We need some of those wins instead of just relying on making baskets.” 

Compton’s wards limited the Gin Kings to just an 11-point first period and arrived at halftime clutching an 11-point advantage, 36-25 – and all the while keeping Ginebra at just a 28% shooting clip. 

With that kind of first half, a comeback was something Compton expected.  

“We talked about it at the half that they’re gonna come out and they’re gonna pressure. Eleven points doesn’t mean anything. You never accomplish a win in 24 minutes.” 

He was right.

Ginebra unleashed on a 13-2 run to tie things up at 38 with under 8 minutes in the third. They managed to keep in step with Alaska for that entire frame and even took the lead several times.  

“Unfortunately, I think we felt a little too good about ourselves to start the third and they came out hungry,” Compton admitted. “We were just too careless. We were feeling too good of ourselves too early.”

But Alaska returned to their defensive form and put a stop to Ginebra in the fourth, quietly building a 10-point lead, 62-52, on a Calvin Abueva three-point play with 10:32 remaining, before racing to 15 to 21-point bulges towards the end – leaving Ginebra unable to close out strong once again.  

According to Compton, Alaska’s biggest advantage was their energy. 

“Sa tingin ko medyo pagod na sila (Ginebra). Kasi Wednesday night was an intense game. Any time Ginebra plays San Miguel, those guys played hard. That’s gonna take some legs out of you,” he explained. (I think Ginebra was tired. Because Wednesday night was an intense game.) 

“So I think the longer rest that we had showed a little bit today. I really appreciated our players’ energy tonight.” 

The highest scorer for Alaska was import Henry Walker with 16 points to go with 8 rebounds. Abueva and Espinas chipped in, 14 and 13 points, respectively. While Sonny Thoss did his job on the boards with 13 rebounds. 

It’s the first playoffs appearance of Compton as head coach of Alaska. 

“I basically inherited a very good team with a very good system. I’m trying not to screw it up for them.”

The loss cost Ginebra a hold of the top spot, dropping down to 5-3, as Zaccheus Mason led them with 21 points and 11 rebounds.  

Mark Caguioa was the only other Gin King in double digits with 10 points.  

Scores 

Alaska 79 – Walker 16, Abueva 14, Espinas 13, Casio 8, Thoss 8, Manuel 8, Baguio 6, Jazul 5, Hontiveros 1, Reyes 0, Belasco 0, Dela Cruz 0.

Ginebra 66 – Mason 21, Caguioa 10, Slaughter 7, Baracael 6, Aguilar 6, Tenorio 4, Urbiztondo 3, Knuttel 2, Ababou 2, Helterbrand 2, Mamaril 2, Ellis 1, Monfort 0.

Quarter scores: 20-11, 36-25, 55-51, 79-66. 

– Rappler.com