Games today:
Mall of Asia
4:15 p.m. – NLEX vs. Barako Bull
7 p.m. – Kia vs. San Miguel
The Alaska Aces had little trouble disposing of the Blackwater Elite as they kick-started their campaign in the PBA Governors’ Cup with a huge 106-80 victory yesterday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Eager to bounce back from their mediocre showing in the previous conference, the Aces jumped all over the expansion team and dominated the match from opening tip to final buzzer.
Import Romeo Travis proved to be as good as advertised as he finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds in less than 30 minutes of action for head coach Alex Compton.
The winning margin was Alaska’s largest since beating Meralco by 41 points last year in the Philippine Cup.
Guards Jayvee Casio and Chris Banchero added 13 each while former Southwestern University Cobra Cyrus Baguio had a dozen as all but a single player scored for the Aces in an impressive show of offensive balance.
The Aces started off hot and used a 13-2 run to build a 26-17 first quarter lead. They hammered the final nail on Blackwater’s coffin as early as the third, where they blitzed their opponents with 13 unanswered points that helped raise their lead to a high of 35, 81-46.
Gilas Pilipinas long-time naturalized player Marcus Douthit was the Elite’s lone bright spot with 28 points and 16 rebounds. Cebuano guard Brian Heruela struggled to put points on the board and had just four but made up for it with eight assists.
BOX SCORES:
ALASKA 106 – Travis 18, Casio 13, Banchero 13, Baguio 12, Abueva 9, Jazul 7, Manuel 6, Dela Rosa 6, Exciminiano 6, Menk 6, Thoss 4, Baclao 2, Hontiveros 2, Eman 2, Dela Cruz 0.
BLACKWATER 80 – Douthit 28, Gamalinda 10, Salvacion 9, Cervantes 7, Bulawan 5, Timberlake 4, Reyes 4, Erram 4, Heruela 4, Acuna 3, Faundo 2, Celiz 0, Laure 0.
Quarter Scores: 26-17, 55-41, 85-58, 106-80.
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