TURNED out the sleepless night spent by Alaska's coaching staff devising a defensive scheme for the Terrence Jones-led TNT was all worth it.
The Aces effectively stifled Jones and the rest of the KaTropa for a 108-72 victory Sunday that forced a deciding game in their PBA Commissioner's Cup quarterfinals duel at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Diamon Simpson had 15 points and a game-high 19 rebounds to pace Alaska, but it was the team's collective defensive effort against the usually explosive KaTropa import ultimately spelled the big difference in the match.
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The win by eighth-seeded Alaska over the eliminations topnotcher neutralized TNT's win-once advantage and set up a winner-take-all match on Wednesday.
It was the worst playoffs loss for TNT and Alaska coach Alex Compton admitted he, too, was surprised by the lopsided outcome.
"We didnt see that coming," said Compton. "A big part of it, I think, is because they missed shots all night. They missed shots they normally make. These games happen to great teams and TNT is a great team."
The Aces' defense on Jones also played a key role, limiting the latter to just 19 points, 14 below his average, on 6-of-13 shooting from the field.
He also wound up with six rebounds and a game-worst seven turnovers before sitting out the entire fourth period after getting slapped with an F1 off Carl Bryan Cruz in the dying seconds of the third period.
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It was not just the former Houston Rocket who was frustrated.
The KaTropa as a whole were limited to a 23-of-77 field shooting, got terribly outrebounded 73-47 and committed 15 turnovers.
Jason Castro had a game-high 23 points but the absence of the usual contributions from Roger Pogoy and Don Trollano took a big hit in the KaTropa's bid to put a quick end to the duel.
Pogoy was held to only two points on 1-of-10 shooting and Trollano to a solitary charity after muffing all his eight tries from the field.
Compton, whose team had just one day to prepare for TNT after outdueling Meralco in overtime only last Friday and then spent the rest of the evening coming up with a strategy for TNT, said nothing has changed in his crew's underdog mind-set.
"You're not gonna hear a whole lot of celebrating from us," stated Compton.
"All we did was get a chance to play a hungry, well-coached, disciplined, tough team on Wednesday after a bad loss," added Compton.
"We have to be absolutely great."
Alaska already came close to that Sunday, using its quick-switching defense and rebounding superiority to take control of the match right in the opening quarter.
Even had TNT fielded Jones back in the fourth quarter, it was highly unlikely he would have willed the KaTropa back into the game.
From an 87-60 lead after three quarters, Compton himself started resting his starters for good, mirroring TNT's move by using his bench.
That didn't stop the Aces from realizing the runaway win.
JeronTeng also had 15 points along with 11 rebounds, Simon Enciso and Chris Banchero each added 14 points and Vic Manuel and Cruz tossed in 13 and 11 markers, respectively. (NC)
The scores:
ALASKA 108 - Teng 15, Simpson 15, Enciso 14, Banchero 14, Manuel 13, Cruz 11, Casio 8, Racal 7, Galliguez 5, Baclao 2, Exciminiano 2, Ayaay 2, Thoss 0, Pascual 0.
TALK N TEXT 72 - Castro 23, Jones 19, Rosario 9, Taha 5, Reyes 4, Magat 4, A. Semerad 3, Heruela 2, Pogoy 2, Trollano 1, D. Semerad 0, Golla 0, Washington 0, Casi?o 0.
Quarters: 27-18, 53-41, 89-60, 108-72.
