Alaska stops Ginebra, wins 4th straight

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The Alaska Aces did just enough to outplay and ward off Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and win their fourth straight game, 86-80, in the 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Wednesday, March 9 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Alaska, which led by as much as 14 in the third before Ginebra rallied back into the game, hiked its record to 4-1 for solo second place.

The Gin Kings ended their 3-game winning run and dropped to an even 3-3 after being shackled to just 80 points all game, the lowest output by any team this conference, according to PBA statistician Fidel Mangonon III.

“I thought our team defense is obviously key. And 80… I don’t think we’ll be able to hold them or any other team that well again,” coach Alex Compton said.

“It’s very important because I knew coming into this game offense would not be easy. Any time people say coach Tim Cone’s name they think about the triangle. But the casual fan does not realize that he’s a defensive genius, so I know we weren’t going to score 120 points on them.”

Import Shane Edwards scattered 25 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocks, including a highlight alley-oop jam off a high lob from Cyrus Baguio in the fourth.

Calvin Abueva went 7-of-15 for 17 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, a steal and a block despite battling foul trouble. RJ Jazul came off the bench and hit 3 triples, including the dagger trey, for 16 markers to go with 4 boards and two dimes. Sonny Thoss added 10 points.

Greg Slaughter had a game-high 28 points on 10-of-14 shooting to go with 10 rebounds.

Ginebra import Othyus Jeffers, who missed his first 13 field goal attempts before making his first conversion early in the third, came alive in the second half to finish with 21 points. Jeffers, this conference’s smallest import at 6-foot-3, crashed the boards with an impressive 24 rebounds.

He also brought Ginebra to within 78-79 with 2:40 remaining but Jazul burned them with the dagger 3-pointer 37 seconds later, 82-78.

A pair of Jervy Cruz free throws brought the count down to two again before Jazul bailed Alaska out anew with two charities of his own for the 4-point cushion with 13.7 seconds left to play.

Joe Devance and Japeth Aguilar had 10 points each, with Aguilar pulling down 6 rebounds on top of 4 assists and two blocks.

Scores:

Alaska (86): Edwards 25, Abueva 17, Jazul 16, Thoss 10, Baguio 7, Manuel 5, Banchero 2, Exciminiano 2, Hontiveros 2, Casio 0, Dela Rosa 0, Eman 0, Menk 0.

Ginebra (80): Slaughter 28, Jeffers 21, Aguilar 10, Devance 10, Tenorio 4, Ellis 3, Cruz 2, Thompson 2, Caguioa 0, Helterbrand 0, Marcelo 0, Mercado 0.

Quarter scores: 20-25, 42-39, 67-62, 86-80. 

– Rappler.com