Alaska withstood a late comeback from NorthPort to punch its playoff ticket in the PBA Philippine Cup with a 102-94 win at the Angeles University Foundation in Pampanga on Friday, November 6.

Rodney Brondial finished 16 points and 10 rebounds and made crucial plays down the stretch, helping Alaska improve to 6-4 and join TNT, Barangay Ginebra, and Phoenix in the playoff cast.

Coming off the bench, Brondial came through during crunch time as the Aces survived after almost squandering a 14-point lead in the final quarter.

Brondial scored 10 fourth-quarter points, including the win-sealing foul shot with 10 seconds left, and collared a key offensive rebound that essentially closed all doors on the Batang Pier fightback.

Christian Standhardinger and Garvo Lanete took turns to shave the NorthPort deficit from 14 to 4 points, 92-96, with a minute remaining.

But that was the closest the Batang Pier could get as Maverick Ahanmisi sank a pull-up jumper following a Brondial offensive board and hit a pair of free throws for a 6-point Aces lead.

Abu Tratter had 16 points and 6 rebounds in the win, Jeron Teng finished with 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists, while Robbie Herndon chimed in 13 points, 4 assists, and 2 steals.

Ahanmisi and Vic Manuel added 11 points apiece for Alaska.

Standhardinger laid it all out on the floor with 39 points, 16 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals, but NorthPort still failed to catch a break as it lost its third straight game and fell to 1-7.

Lanete and Nabong backstopped Standhardinger with 11 points each.

The Scores

Alaska 102 – Tratter 16, Brondial 16, Teng 14, Herndon 13, Manuel 11, Ahanmisi 11, Casio 6, Ebona 6, DiGregorio 6, Galliguez 3, Publico 0, Ayaay 0.

NorthPort 94 – Standhardinger 39, Lanete 11, Nabong 11, Taha 10, Elore 9, Ferrer 8, Subido 3, Cruz 3, Revilla 0, Guinto 0, Manganti 0.

Quarters: 27-18, 45-40, 69-65, 102-94.

– Rappler.com