Holding 3-2 lead, Alaska looks to wrap up semis series vs Rain or Shine

ACES GO FOR KILL

Gabe Norwood of Rain or Shine and Alaska’s Calvin Abueva try to gain ball possession in Game 5 of their semis duel.
(PBA IMAGES)

Game today
Araneta Coliseum
5 p.m.- Alaska vs. Rain or Shine

Looking to exorcise the ghost of a bitter past, the Alaska Aces go for the jugular when they battle the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at the resumption of the semifinal round of the 40th PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

The two squads will be taking the floor with fresh legs as they took a week-long respite. They last played in Dec. 27, where the Aces posted a 93-88 come-from-behind win that gave them a crucial 3-2 series lead.

Alaska is gunning for a win that will push it to the best-of-seven finals against the waiting San Miguel Beermen.

The Beermen clinched the first finals seat with a 4-0 sweep of the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters in their own semifinal duel.
Alaska showed tremendous fighting spirit, clawing back from a 19-point second quarter deficit to steal the critical win.

“It’s very similar to Game 1. We had a good lead, we had the momentum, but again, it was a game of runs,” Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao said.

Despite falling to a 2-3 deficit, the Elasto Painters remain optimistic they can still turn things around.

“I’m still confident. I know that we are capable and we can find a way to win the series. Mataas pa yung paniniwala kong kaya pang mailusot ito,” said Guiao.

Rain or Shine has shown it has what it takes to rise from adversity and Alaska knows it.

“Basically what we got is a twice to beat (advantage); we still need to get one (win),” Alaska head coach Alex Compton said. “No question it won’t be easy and there’s no guarantee we’ll be there.”

Rain or Shine is in a familiar situation.

In the best-of-five semifinal round of the recent Governors’ Cup against the same Alaska squad, the Elasto Painters stared at 1-2 series deficit but they didn’t give up and won the next two games to steal series.