Clutch Banchero leads Aces in finals rematch vs Beermen

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Was beating the San Miguel Beermen enough for Alaska Aces head coach Alex Compton to lessen the pain of their loss in the 2015 PBA Philippine Cup Finals?

“I don’t think a regular season game will ever give you revenge for a championship loss,” he says.

But Compton knew that his Aces still needed to beat the Beermen badly in their elimination round game on Tuesday, February 17, even if it meant fighting through the amount of injuries and health concerns his team is dealing with.

Fortunately for the rookie head coach, his players stepped up in a big way as they converted critical shots late in the fourth quarter to pull out a 107-100 win at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“I feel like we really needed to win. I know it’s early in the conference, but if you look at the standings, this is not 10 teams get in,” a relieved Compton said after the contest, as Alaska improves to 2-2 in the 2015 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

San Miguel, the champions of the previous conference, fell to 0-4 and is now in serious danger of missing out on being one of the eight teams to advance to the conference playoffs.

Rookie standout Chris Banchero stepped up with JVee Casio sidelined, converting 8 crucial points in the fourth quarte for a total of 14 points with 7 rebounds, and 5 assists for the game. “We really needed to win that,” he said after.

Dondon Hontiveros contributed 17 points on just 4-of-5 shooting in addition to 5 rebounds, while Aces import DJ Covington put up 20 markers and 10 boards.

“I was proud with the heart the guys showed,” said Compton. But he wasn’t happy with their defensive effort. The Aces, who were giving up 99 PPG to opponents entering Tuesday’s game, allowed SMB to score in triple figures.

“I don’t like giving up this many points… We’re not used to scoring this many points. So it didn’t feel like a typical San Miguel-Alaska game,” he said.

The Aces’ game-changing run commenced at the 4-minute mark, when a floater in the paint by Vic Manuel put his club up by three. After SMB failed to answer, Cyrus Baguio hit his patented midrange jumper to extend the lead to 96-91.

With 2:17 left, Banchero grabbed a critical offensive rebound and quickly put up a basket to establish a seven-point lead for Alaska. The Beermen failed to answer back and paid for it, as Banchero came back down the next possession and hit a running floater to put his team up 100-91.

Just when San Miguel looked left for dead, Banchero failed to ice the game at the foul line as he went a combined 1-of-4 on two trips. On the succeeding possessions, a pair of baskets by June Mar Fajardo and Marcio Lassiter cut the deficit to 4.

After Hontiveros was fouled and sank both charities, Chris Lutz hit a triple to breathe some more life to a Beermen comeback. After a time-out, Hontiveros was fouled again and converted both free throws, making the count 105-100.

Ronald Tubid and Fajardo then took and missed a pair of three-pointers, putting an end to their comeback bid sealing the fourth loss this conference for their squad.

Baguio came up with 10 points and 4 steals for Alaska, who forced 21 SMB turnovers that led to 23 points. Eric Menk and Gabby Espinas both played well off the bench, combining for 16 points and 13 rebounds.

“I was particularly happy to see Gabby Espinas get his groove back,” Compton said.

Calvin Abueva played only 13 minutes as he battled a sickness that has taken turns affecting different Aces, but he still put up 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists with a plus-minus of +22.

“We have a bunch of guys out with sickness. Buong bahay namin. Buong bahay ni Calvin. Buong bahay ng Alaska (Our whole house. Calvin’s whole house. Alaska’s whole house),” Compton said laughingly.

The flu-stricken Aces looked in danger of suffering another blowout loss early in the first period as the Beermen raced off to a 13-3 lead. But just like in their three finals wins, Alaska rallied and kept within striking distance for most of the contest before delivering the final blow late for the win.

Fajardo recorded a near triple-double of 21 points, 17 rebounds, and 7 assists to lead SMB, who also received 24 points and 14 rebounds from their import Ronald Roberts and 18 points from Marcio Lassiter.

Arwind Santos, the Philippine Cup Finals MVP, played only 7:50 minutes after sustaining a knee injury and finished with 4 markers.

San Miguel allowed Alaska to shoot 53% from the field and converted just 24 free throws despite making it to the charity stripe 42 times. The Beermen’s bench was also vastly outplayed by the Aces, 72-13.

San Miguel will be back in action on Saturday, February 21, when they take on the 5-0 Meralco Bolts in Cagayan De Oro City. They are expected to be without Alex Cabagnot, who missed Tuesday’s game and will be out for about two weeks due to a torn right hamstring.

Alaska will face the 3-2 Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on Friday, February 20.

Scores:

Alaska (107) – Covington 20, Hontiveros 17, Banchero 14, Abueva 12, Baguio 10, Espinas 8, Menk 8, Exciminiano 7, Manuel 6, Jazul 5, Eman 0, Dela Rosa 0, Vanlandingham 0, Dela Cruz 0, Casio 0

San Miguel (100) – Roberts 24, Fajardo 21, Lassiter 18, Lutz 15, Ross 9, Tubid 6, Santos 4, Fortuna 3, Kramer 0, Reyes 0, Omolon 0

Quarter Scoring: 19-27, 49-50, 76-78, 107-100

– Rappler.com