March 22, 2017

Aces take down Elite for second win in a row

ALASKA was already enjoying the upper hand in its match against Blackwater Wednesday.

Then Elite import Greg Smith committed two costly fouls that the Aces used as key momentum to finally push forward for good and come out a 109-95 winner for a piece of the early lead in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Cory Jefferson led everybody with 28 points to go with 15 rebounds and Alaska's vaunted pressure defense was a major factor in the Aces' charge to as much as a 21-point third quarter cushion.

But the biggest opening Alaska pounced on was when Smith fouled out with still 7:28 left in the game, leaving Jefferson and Sonny Thoss practically free to throw their height and heft around inside.

"It was really a big deal that Sonny was able to get him (Smith) into foul trouble and attacked him in the post. That's the best lift for us, having Sonny," said coach Alex Compton after his Aces' follow up to their 107-79 drubbing of GlobalPort last Saturday.

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As a result, Alaska racked up its second straight win and joined idle co-leaders Rain or Shine and Meralco.

Blackwater joined idle Mahindra in the bottom of the standings with a 0-2 slate.
Reil Cervantes came off the bench starting only in the third quarter and finished with 21 points as he and Roi Sumang, who wound up with 13, tried to keep the Elite in the game.

But without Smith, who notched 37 points and 30 rebounds in a 116-118 double overtime loss to Phoenix also last Saturday, Blackwater simply could not muster any real threat to Alaska.

Smith had 14 points and 16 rebounds, but got whistled for fouls against Jefferson and Thoss within a 36-second span that practically cost Blackwater the game.

Jefferson's three-point play off Smith's fifth foul gave Alaska more breathing room after Blackwater's most noteworthy stand moved it to within 79-86 and his short stab after Smith fouled out started a six-point binge for the Aces that made it a very safe 95-81 count.
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The victory was not without its toll as Chris Banchero, starting in place of Jayvee Casio, re-injured his right wrist in the second quarter, the same injury that kept him out for most of the Philippine Cup.

Banchero is expected to join not only Casio, but also Vic Manuel, Dondon Hontiveros and Noy Baclao on the injury list going to their game against Mahindra next Wednesday.

Alaska's follow up to its 107-79 drubbing of GlobalPort was clearly on the horizon after it led by as much as 72-51 in the third quarter.

The breakaway from a 52-43 halftime lead was sparked by the Aces forcing Blackwater to commit six of its total 22 turnovers in the first four minutes of the quarter although the Elite managed to hang tough and kept within 80-68 going to the final canto.

Smith already had 10 points and 11 rebounds in the first half, but Kevin Racal, Jefferson and Alaska's bench were major factors in the Aces taking their nine-point lead at the turn.

Racal scattered nine points, Jefferson chipped in eight on top of seven rebounds and their relievers, led by Ping Exciminiano, outscored their Elite counterparts 22-14 in their pull away from a 27-23 count.