ANTIPOLO - Alaska Milk worked on an unrelenting effective effort in the second half to overcome a first-half struggle and upend Barangay Ginebra, 97-83, in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Sports Center here Sunday.
Vic Manuel best typified their second-half turnaround as the "Muscle Man" poured in 14 of his game-high 18 points in the last two quarters, leading the Aces past the Ginebra side which became a lot more decimated on the sidelining of behemoth Greg Slaughter.
Outworking and outfighting the Kings in the second half, the Aces kept in step with the TNT KaTropa Texters at third place at 3-2.
Meanwhile, Slaughter joining Joe Devance on the sideline clearly told on the Gin Kings who went down with a second straight loss following their 77-94 upset by the Blackwater Elite.
"Sometimes you have to take advantage of the opportunity that comes your way. Two No. 1 picks in the other team didn't play," said Alaska coach Alex Compton.
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But the great effort exerted by his players in the second half was not lost on the Alaska Milk bench chieftain.
"Our defensive energy in the third quarter went up. Offensively, we settled down and hit shots at the right spot, at the right moment," said Compton.
"Vic was completely a different person in the second half. You saw an All-Star player in the second half and a struggle in the first half," said Compton in making special mention of Manuel.
Manuel scattered 11 markers in the third period, leading their hot charge from 36-44 down at the half to a 73-63 spread going into the final canto.
And help just never ran out for the Aces as they sustained an admirable performance in the second half on the way to a third straight win following a 0-2 season start.
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Sonny Thoss was also a lead light for Alaska with the 6-foot-7 center coming through with 17 markers, four boards, one assist, one block and one steal.
Chris Banchero and JVee Casio stood out among the guards as they combined for 27 points.
Aljon Mariano, playing extended minutes on the absence of Slaughter and Devance, topscored for the Gin Kings with 15 points that went with nine boards. (SB)
The scores:
Alaska 97 - Manuel 18, Thoss 17, Banchero 14, Casio 13, Abueva 9, Teng 9, Cruz 5, Potts 3, Exciminiano 2, Magat 2.
Ginebra 83 - Mariano 15, Thompson 12, Ferrer 12, J. Aguilar 12, Caguioa 8, Cruz 8, Tenorio 5, R. Aguilar 5, Wilson 2, Taha 2, Jamito 0.
Quarters: 26-23, 36-44, 73-63, 97-83.
