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MANILA, Philippines – The potential to be one of the best players in the PBA has always been there for Calvin Abueva.
On Tuesday, November 11, that promise was on full display as the Alaska Aces rode Abueva’s 23-point, 21-rebound performance in their 85-75 win over the KIA Sorento at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
The win improves the Aces’ record to 5-0, as they remain the only undefeated team in the PBA right now. The Sorento fall to 1-5, with all their losses coming in games they played without player-coach Manny Pacquiao.
“The goal is not to be undefeated, but the goal is to be better and win the championship,” Aces head coach Alex Compton said after the game.
The Aces are a win short of tying their franchise best start to a season (6-0), per PBA statistician Fidel Mangonon III.
It was the second 20-20 game this season for Alaska’s third-year man out of San Sebastian, who entered Tuesday’scontest averaging 15.5 PPG and 11.5 RPG in the 2014-2015 PBA Philippine Cup conference.
‘The Beast’ is the first local player in the PBA to have two 20-20 games in a conference since Asi Taulava did it for Coca-Cola in the 2007-2008 Philippine Cup.
Swingman Cyrus Baguio put up 11 points for the Aces, while key bench players Vic Manuel and Dondon Hontiveros contributed a combined 27 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists.
The Aces played without big man Sonny Thoss missed the game with a foot injury. Veteran forward/center Eric Menk, acquired through a trade prior through the start of the conference, was activated in his place and contributed 3 points.
Big man Reil Cervantes had 18 points and 6 rebounds for KIA, while former DLSU small forward David Webb finished with 13 markers and 6 boards.
“They (KIA) just did a fantastic job tonight,” Compton said about the Sorento, who were down only one, 39-38, at the half.
“There are certain things we emphasized with Alaska but I felt we didn’t match their intensity,” he added later on about his team.
Midway through the fourth quarter, a fadeaway right-corner 3-pointer by KIA stretch big Chito Jaime cut what was once a 16-point Aces lead to four, 73-69.
He was quickly countered as Jvee Casio found a wide-open Hontiveros in the corner with a weakside pass to extend his team’s lead back up to 6.
A few possessions later, Jaime responded to an and-one play by Abueva by hitting another 3-ball. However, that was as close as KIA would get the rest of the way.
Baguio and Casio quickly converted baskets to push Alaska’s advantage back up to 8 with about 3 minutes to go.
After the Sorento failed to answer on offense, a hockey pass by Casio to a cutting Manuel find an open Abueva, whose basket increased Alaska’s lead to 10, 83-73, to seal the win.
Alaska will take on the Blackwater Elite on Friday, November 14, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, while KIA will collide with the Barako Bull on Sunday, November 16, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Scores:
Alaska (85): Abueva 23, Manuel 15, Hontiveros 12, Baguio 11, Banchero 7, Jazul 7, Menk 3, Eman 2, Exciminiano 2, Casio 2, Bugia 1, Dela Cruz 0, Dela Rosa 0, Thoss 0.
KIA (75): Cervantes 18, Webb 13, Pascual 10, Buensuceso 8, Jaime 6, Dehesa 5, Raymundo 4, Lingganay 3, Alvarez 3, Thiele 2, Padilla 2, Sanga 1, Revilla 0, Alonzo 0.
Quarter scores: 11-18, 39-38, 66-52, 85-75.
Here are some photos of the game taken by Nuki Sabio/PBA Images
– Rappler.com
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