SEA Games

Alaska returns to PBA Finals after blowout of Globalport

Jane Bracher

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Alaska returns to PBA Finals after blowout of Globalport

Josh Albelda

The Aces make their 29th franchise finals appearance since entering the league in 1986

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The Alaska Aces dealt one final blow to the deflated Globalport Batang Pier, beating them, 118-89, in Game 5 of the best-of-7 semifinals to be the first team into the finals of the 2016 PBA Philippine Cup on Tuesday, January 12, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Aces make their 29th franchise finals appearance since entering the league in 1986, and their 10th in an all-Filipino conference. This is also their first back-to-back all-Filipino finals appearance since 1995-1996, according to PBA head statistician Fidel Mangonon III.

Chris Exciminiano led 6 scorers in double digits for Alaska with a career-high 19 points on 8-of-11 field goals to go with 5 rebounds and 3 steals. 

Chris Banchero finished with 18 points and 5 rebounds, while Calvin Abueva had 14 markers and 9 boards off the bench.

 

 

Sonny Thoss chipped in 14 points as well on top of 5 rebounds, while Vic Manuel and Cyrus Baguio had 10 points apiece for the Aces, which swept the Batang Pier after dropping Game 1 of the series.

“I do like the defensive energy we’ve had in this series,” head coach Alex Compton said after leading Alaska to its 3rd finals in the last 4 conferences.

Compton, whose Alaska team settled for runner-up twice last season, would certainly like a different outcome in the next series they’ll play – especially since Alaska holds the longest all-Filipino championship drought of 16 years after last winning it in 2000.

“I hope we’ll win 4 games this year instead of 3, I hope that’s the difference,” he said.

“For me it’s always about our character and how we’re playing and the effort we put in the floor. Hopefully we’ll keep getting off any mistakes and I would really love to win 4 games in the next series, that would be wonderful.”

 

Jay Washington had a game-high 26 points on top of 7 rebounds for Globalport while guard Terrence Romeo was held to just 20 points on 5-of-12 shooting from the field.

 

Stanley Pringle added 15 markers and 7 boards as the Batang Pier failed to get their offense going after an explosive start to the series.

Alaska’s airtight defense sprang back to life come Game 2 of the series and it never wavered as they beat Globalport by an average of 22.5 points in the last 4 games. They lost 107-93 in Game 1 coming off a two-week lay-off owing to the outright semifinals berth.

 

Globalport, who played in its first-ever semifinals, never led nor threatened in Game 5 after its bench was clobbered by Alaska’s, 65-20.

 

The Aces also moved to second overall with most all-time wins at 892 behind the Beermen’s 1,211 wins, said Mangonon.

Alaska will face the winner between the Rain or Shine and San Miguel series, which is currently tied at 2-2.

Scores:

Alaska (118): Exciminiano 18, Banchero 18, Abueva 14, Thoss 14, Baguio 10, Manuel 10, Jazul 9, Menk 9, Hontiveros 6, Casio 5, Dela Cruz 2, Eman 2, Baclao 0, Dela Rosa 0.

Globalport (89): Washington 26, Romeo 20, Pringle 15, Sumang 9, Isip 6, Yeo 6, Jensen 3, Kramer 2, Maierhofer 2, Peña 0, Semerad 0.

Quarter scores: 27-17, 60-51, 87-73, 118-89.

#PBA: Coach Alex Compton interview as Alaska returns to the Finals

Posted by Jane Yvette Bracher on Tuesday, 12 January 2016
 

 

– Rappler.com

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