source: abs-cbnnews.com
Alaska clinched at least a playoff game for the second automatic semifinal seat with a shaky 85-77 win over Sta. Lucia Realty Wednesday night in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Veteran guard Jeffrey Cariaso had his productive game in a while with 13 points, all in the second half, to cover up an anemic performance from 2-time MVP Willie Miller to lead the Aces to their 12th win against 3 losses.
Joe Devance led Alaska with 17 points but it was Cariaso’s steady performance in the second half and LA Tenorio’s efficient quarterbacking that allowed the Aces to come back in the game and end a 2-game slide.
The win shut the door on the automatic semis bids of the Realtors and Talk ‘N Text.
Sta. Lucia was trailing 72-79 when Kelly Williams banged in a three-pointer that started a mini 5-0 run to close the gap at 77-79 with 53.1 seconds left.
But Devance scored on the next play on Miller’s pass and the Realtors came out empty handed in their next two possessions that resulted to Tenorio’s four free throws to seal the win for Alaska.
Williams paced the Realtors with 14 points and 14 rebounds. They dropped to 9-7. Joseph Yeo and Ryan Reyes also had 14 points apiece for coach Boyet Fernandez.
Tigers in huge win
Coca-Cola, meanwhile, pulled off an important victory over early semifinalist San Miguel Beer, 118-107, to keep a one-game lead over Barako Bull.
Asi Taulava, Norman Gonzales and RJ Rizada came through with solid performances to help the Tigers notched their fourth win against 12 losses and tied Rain or Shine for the 8th and 9th positions.
Taulava fired a game-high 27 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the field to go along with his 15 rebounds and 6 assists in another fine performance for the one-time MVP of the league.
Gonzales hit a conference-high 22 markers while Rizada had a career-high 22 points, 12 came in the final quarter where Coke weathered the rally by the Beermen, who already booked the first automatic semifinal seat last week.
“We’re lucky to catch San Miguel in a game that has no importance to them and on the other hand is very important to us,” said Tigers head coach Bo Perasol who also got double figures in points from Larry Rodriguez and Mark Macapagal.
“We have to feel better with ourselves because we have two important games left, we must make sure we don’t get eliminated,” he added.
Rodriguez finished with 14 points while Macapagal had 13, 11 came in the first canto that set the tone for the Tigers.
They posted an 11-point spread twice in the fourth quarter, the last at 106-95 before the Beermen reeled off 8 straight points capped by back-to-back 3-pointers by Lordy Tugade and Jonas Villanueva to threaten at 103-106 with 2:02 remaining.
But Taulava hit a clutch jumper and Rodriguez added with an undergoal stab to get some breathing room, 110-103, 1:114 left.
After Arwind Santos tipped in his own missed shot for San Miguel, 105-110, Coke ended the game with a 6-2 run to halt the Beermen’s 4-game winning run.
Santos led San Miguel with 22 points while Tugade added 19. Mike Cortez and Dennis Miranda each had 12 for the Beermen, who stayed at the top of the team standing with 13-4 loss slate.
Coke failed to utilize new recruits Gary David and Chico Lanete who came in via a trade with Burger King last January 4. David served a 1-game suspension while Lanete has a hamstring injury.
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