Alaska Milk played with great legs coming from a month-long respite, so much so that the Aces wore the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters down with a pressing and running game.
The Aces sent the Elasto Painters down on their knees in the fourth quarter, pulling off a 106-89 victory that boosted Alaska's playoff hopes in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.
Down by four, 75-79, early in the fourth, Simon Enciso and Vic Manuel sparked a decisive 16-to-nothing run that had the Aces spurting ahead and going on to tie the Blackwater Elite at third place at 4-1, just half game behind joint leaders the Barangay Ginebra Kings and the Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots.
The Aces immediately got back on track after dropping their last game against the Gin Kings, 101-109, last Sept. 2.
Obviously, the Aces did their assignments in their long break, coming back strong to nail a fourth win following successive victories over Meralco (80-72), TNT KaTropa (125-96) and Phoenix Petroleum (108-97) to start their conference.
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"I was coming into the situation thinking we're rusty. Even when I sent my son to school I saw the billboard that says rusty (Rusty Lopez). I saw a piece of metal that's rusty. I know we're a little rusty but our guys got going and fought through it," said Alaska coach Alex Compton.
"That's our theme. We got rusty in a minute but we got going," Compton also said.
The Aces were in their elements in the fourth quarter, pummeling the E-Painters, 31-12, to keep ROS winless in three games despite a new import in Terrence Watson.
Mike Harris handled Watson easily, with the Alaska import exploding for 39 points and 25 rebounds as against Watson's 11 markers on 3-of-15 shooting.
"Mike was great. The break helped us, helped get Mike's body right back where he could rehab and do his ankle right," said Compton.
"He's a heck of a player and he showed it today," Compton added.
But it was not just Harris.
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Enciso, Manuel and Chris Banchero scored 16 points each as the Alaska locals held their own against their ROS counterparts led by Beau Belga who fired away a personal season best of 20 points.
Ed Daquiaog, Rey Nambatac, Gabe Norwood and Maverick Ahanmisi contributed at least 10 each but the E-Painters crumbled under the weight of Harris' 39-point explosion and the Aces' strong windup. (SB)
The scores:
Alaska 106 - Harris 39, Banchero 16, Enciso 16, Manuel 16, Exciminiano 8, Teng 5, Baclao 4, Casio 2, Racal 0, Pascual 0, Andrada 0.
Rain or Shine 89 - Belga 20, Daquioag 11, Ahanmisi 11, Norwood 10, Watson 10, Nambatac 10, Yap 9, Washington 4, Tiu 2, Ponferada 2, Torres 0.
Quarters: 26-30, 47-49, 75-77, 106-89.
