Alaska Aces stay live, defeat San Miguel Beer to force Game 7

Rodneil Quiteles

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Alaska Aces stay live, defeat San Miguel Beer to force Game 7
The Alaska Aces live to fight another day as they tie the series at 3-3,forc ing a do-or-die game 7 against the San Miguel Beermen with an 87-76 Game 6 win
Sam Eman of Alaska and Arwind Santos of San Miguel Beer fight for a loose ball. Photo by Nuki Sabio/PBA Images

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – One last game. 

The Alaska Aces live to fight another day as they tie the series at 3-3 forcing a do-or-die game 7 against the San Miguel Beermen with an 87-76 Game 6 win on Sunday, January 18 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.  

The “Cebuano Hotshot” Dondon Hontiveros was on target for the Aces finishing with 18 points on 6-12 shooting from the field and 3-5 from the three-point area. 

In an interview after the game, Hontiveros said they made the necessary adjustments which is why they came away with the win. Asked what’s it like playing against his former team, the veteran shooting guard said he’s just happy to be playing at this point in his career. 

“Kahit sino naman kalaban you want to give your best. I’m just happy na nakatulong ako ng malaki sa Alaska. I should be retiring but they gave me the opportunity to play.”

(You want to give your best no matter who you’re up against. I’m just happy I’m able to contribute to Alaska.)

Also contributing in this game is point guard JVee Casio, who finally broke out of a slump, tallying 9 points with 4 rebounds and two assists after going scoreless in the last two games.

Sonny Thoss made key plays in the end game to keep San Miguel at bay making key passes to cutters for easy twos. He finished with 13 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists.  

Alaska came back from being down 16-4 early in the game. The Aces struggled to make shots and the Beermen appear to be on their way to get the win but Alaska’s second unit entered the game and injected energy to end the first quarter down by just 6, 23-17. 

Hontiveros, along with Vic Manuel, then went to work in the second period helping the Aces score 25 points while limiting the Beermen to just 13. Alaska never looked backed from there. 

Alaska head coach Alex Compton credits the win to the fine defensive work his team delivered. They limited reigning MVP June Mar Fajardo to just 9 points while consistently challenging San Miguel’s shooters. 

“I felt like the big thing for us was just the minutes that their main guys had to play. I think JMF (Fajardo) and Arwind (Santos) combined something like 41 minutes. Marcio and Lutz had 21. I think and Alex had 18,” said Compton.

Compton said their style of play took its toll against the Beermen’s starting unit. 

“When you play against a team that plays the way we do, nakakapagod talaga. Our advantage coming into Game 7 is we play hard. Our guys just really brought the same type of energy. I’m really grateful that our guys play as hard as they do.” 

Compton added: “When you play a great offensive team and hold them to 76 points you have a great chance.”

Santos and Lassiter carried the fight for the Beermen scoring 22 and 19 points respectively. 

 

Game 7 will be played on Wednesday, January 21 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Scores: 

Alaska (87) – Hontiveros 18, Thoss 13, Manuel 12, Baguio 10, Casio 9, Exciminiano 8, Dela Cruz 6, Abueva 5, Jazul 4, Banchero 2, Eman 0, dela Rosa 0, Menk 0, Espinas 0. 

San Miguel (76) – Santos 24, Lassiter 19, Fajardo 9, Cabagnot 8, Kramer 5, Lutz 4, Tubid 3, Omolon 2, Semerad 2, Ross 0, Pascual 0, Fortuna 0, Chua 0, Maierhofer 0.

Quarter scores: 17-23, 42-36, 63-56, 87-76

Rappler.com

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