MANILA, Philippines – Alaska fended off a pesky NLEX side with a late surge, 120-111, to nab its 7th straight win in the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena on Friday, June 15.

Import Antonio Campbell scattered 28 points and 8 rebounds and poured in 8 points in the game-clinching 26-16 run the Aces used to dispatch the Road Warriors after trailing 94-95 midway through the final frame. 

Vic Manuel fired 22 points to extend his streak of scoring at least 20 points to 7 games as Alaska improved to 7-1 to share the top spot with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. 

While Campbell and Manuel ran the show, it was Chris Banchero and Simon Enciso who delivered the killer blows down the stretch.

Enciso drilled a long bomb that gave the Aces a 116-108 lead with 2:21 minutes left in the game while Banchero knocked down back-to-back baskets with a minute remaining for good measure. 

“I think we got a little happy at the first quarter, then I felt NLEX smashed us in the mouth, beat us most of the third. We’re just fortunate to make plays at the end,” said Alaska head coach Alex Compton. 

It was the first time the Aces have beaten the Road Warriors since Yeng Guiao took the coaching reins for NLEX.

“It’s been a while, I know that. I don’t know how many games that is. We had to grind another one out,” Compton added.

Import Arnett Moultrie paced the Road Warriors, who are on the brink of crashing out of playoff contention with a 2-7 record, with 34 points and 8 rebounds. 

JR Quiñahan added 17 points and 5 rebounds while rookie Mac Tallo, who was picked up by NLEX in free agency, chipped in 11 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals and two blocks. 

The Scores:

Alaska (120): Campbell 28. Manuel 22, Casio 16, Enciso 13, Racal 13, Banchero 12, R. Pascual 6, Thoss 6, Exciminano 4, Baclao 0, Galliguez 0, Magat 0.

NLEX (111): Moultrie 34, Quiñahan 17, Baguio 11, Mallari 11, Tallo 11, Tiongson 9, Ighalo 4, Miranda 4, Marcelo 3, Uyloan 3, Soyud 2, Taulava 2, Monfort 0

Quarter scores: 28-14, 55-48, 88-86, 120-111

– Rappler.com