Game today
Araneta Coliseum
7 p.m.- San Miguel vs. Rain or Shine
The Alaska Aces showed once more there is no deficit too big for them to overcome as they sneaked from behind to defeat the defending champions Star Hotshots, 97-91, at the start of their best-of-five semifinal series of the 40th PBA Governors’ Cup last night at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Aces, who figured in several stirring come-from-behind wins this season, trailed by 18 points, 23-41, in the second period and entered the second half staring at a 15-point deficit, 36-51.
But Alaska once again displayed its tremendous character when it charged back from the big deficit behind its signature stingy defense.
It didn’t take long for the Aces to come back in the game as a three-point play by Vic Manuel handed the Alex Compton-coached squad its first taste of the lead, 68-67, with 33.7 seconds left in the third.
PJ Simon quickly gave the lead back to Star when he sank a three-pointer but Chris Banchero answered with a tough layup in the next play that tied the contest at 70-all, entering the fourth.
Four straight points by Banchero and a three-pointer by Dondon Hontiveros to start the fourth gave a Alaska a 77-70 edge, a lead that the Aces never relinquished the rest of the way.
Import Romeo Travis led Alaska with 28 points, while JVee Casio and Banchero added 18 and 10, respectively.
Marqus Blakely paced the Hotshots with 23 markers. Simon had 16 points, Mark Barroca added 15 and James Yap donated 13.