Aces near finals with 25-pt rout of hapless Batang Pier

Alaska’s Calvin Abueva sizes up the defense of GlobalPort’s Jay Washington in Game 4 of their best-of-seven 41st PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series last night at the Araneta Coliseum. (PBA IMAGES)

Game today
Araneta Coliseum
7 p.m.- San Miguel Beer vs. Rain or Shine

The Alaska Aces led from start to finish, easily pocketing a win that shoved them a game away from another trip to the championship round.

Banking on their stifling defense and unselfish offensive plays, the Aces dealt the GlobalPort Batang Pier a severe beating, 109-84, to erect a commanding 3-1 series lead in their best-of-seven semifinal showdown of the 41st PBA

Philippine Cup last night at the Araneta Coliseum.

Alaska will be gunning for its 29th finals appearance when it tries close out GlobalPort on Tuesday for the series’ Game 5.

It was Alaska’s third straight in the series after dropping Game 1, 93-107.

The three wins were lopsided ones.

The Aces tied the series via an 82-69 decision in Game 2 and were also in full control in Game 3 for an 82-69 victory.
Game 4 was also an all Alaska show.

The Aces jumped off to a 7-0 start, went on to post 20-point leads in the second half.

“They’re committed to lay their hearts out on the floor and I can’t ask anything more,” said Alaska head coach Alex Compton of his hard-working wards.

Calvin Abueva powered the Aces with 20 points and 13 rebounds.

Eight other Aces scored at least seven points each.

Cebuano veteran Dondon Hontiveros fired 16 points, RJ Jazul tallied 14 markers and Chris Banchero had nine.

Interestingly, Cyrus Baguio was not fielded in in the entire first half but when his number was called, he responded big time.

Alaska posted a 32-20 lead after the first period and padded the advantage further at the half, 54-40.

Baguio finally saw action in the third quarter and made the most of the limited minutes as he delivered when the Batang Pier threatened to rally.

GlobalPort cut the deficit to just seven, 49-56, but Baguio hit two triples in a crucial Alaska run that saw him scoring eight points in an 11-7 run that helped Alaska restore a double-digit spread, 68-56.

Jazul, Abueva, Vic Manuel and Hontiveros keyed a telling run to end the third, conspiring in a 12-2 assault that catapulted the Aces to a mammoth 82-62 lead, going into the final quarter.

Alaska didn’t let up in the fourth, while GlobalPort continued to sputter that led to the 25-point rout.

Terrence Romeo led the way for the Batang Pier with 24 markers. His backcourt parter Stanley Pringle finished with 16 points.

Jay Washington was the only other Batang Pier in double figures with 12.

ROS SEEKS 3-1 LEAD

Meanwhile, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters seek a critical win when they take on the defending champions San Miguel Beermen in Game 4 of their own race-to-four series.

Rain or Shine holds a 2-1 series lead, winning the last two games after dropping Game 1.

THE SCORES

ALASKA (109)– Abueva 20, Hontiveros 16, Jazul 14, Banchero 10, Dela Rosa 9, Baguio 8, Manuel 8, Casio 8, Eximiniano 7, Baclao 4, Menk 3, Dela Cruz 2, Thoss 0.

GLOBALPORT (84)– Romeo 24, Pringle 16, Washington 12, Yeo 8, Isip 6, Sumang 6, Kramer 4 Jensen 2, Maierhofer 2, Pena 2, Semerad 2, Hayes 0, Mamaril 0, Uyloan 0.

QUARTERSCORES: 32-20; 54-40; 82-62; 109-84.