Jay R. Gotera
MANILA — The Alaska Aces nailed its fourth straight win while ending Barangay Ginebra Kings’ three-game winning streak with an 86-80 victory Wednesday night in the 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Now with a 4-1 win-loss card, Alaska climbed to solo second in the team standings, a game behind pace-setting Meralco (5-1).
Ginebra dropped to 3-3 in a tie with Mahindra and Blackwater for fourth to sixth place.
The Aces were led by their import Shane Edwards who scored 25 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and issued five assists.
Calvin Abueva also sparked for Alaska with 17 points and nine boards. RJ Jazul added 16 points, including several crucial free throws in the endgame, while Sonny Thoss chipped in with 10.
Greg Slaughter caught fire early in the game for Ginebra, scoring 15 huge points and hauling down seven rebounds just in the first quarter alone, as the Kings took a 25-20 first quarter lead. Slaughter stayed hot in the second quarter.
However, the rest of the Kings played lackluster basketball, including import Othyus Jeffers who struggled for just 0-for-13 over the first two periods, though he did have 14 rebounds. LA Tenorio was miserable as well, shooting just 1-for-6.
That enabled the Aces to outscore their rivals, 22-14, in the second quarter to take a three-point lead, 42-39, into the halftime break. Alaska then opened the third with a 17-6 run, padding their lead to 14.
Jeffers and Joe Devance and later, rookie Scottie Thompson and Chris Ellis then scored back-to-back baskets for a 14-0 run that allowed Ginebra to level the score at 61-all. But the Aces took back the lead, ending the third quarter with a 67-62 advantage.
Alaska then seized control of the game in the fourth with a 10-2 blast to build a 77-66 lead.
The Kings came charging back again, cutting Alaska’s lead to a point, 79-78, with 2:42 remaining.
But RJ Jazul drilled a three-pointer to make it a four-point game, 82-78. Japeth Aguilar drilled two free throws to cut Alaska’s lead to 82-80 with 16 seconds left.
The Kings tried to freeze the clock, sending Jazul to the charity stripe twice. But the cold-blooded shooter converted all four free throws to seal Alaska’s victory.
Phoenix 114, Mahindra 99
The Phoenix Fuel Masters snapped a three-game losing streak, leading from start to finish to hack out a 114-99 win over the Mahindra Enforcers.
Import Kevin Pinkney paced Phoenix with 23 points and nine rebounds. RR Garcia and Willy Wilson led the locals in scoring with 22 and 21 points, respectively. Wilson also had 10 boards and five assists.
Games Friday: Meralco Bolts (5-1) vs. NLEX Road Warriors (2-3) and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (2-3) vs. San Miguel Beermen (3-1).
