MANILA — The Alaska Aces needed a 16-0 blast in the final quarter to turn back the hapless Meralco Bolts, 88-86, thus regaining a share of the top spot in the PBA Philippine Cup. Six Aces scored in double digits in a show of balanced offense that got them their seventh win in eight outings, tying idle San Miguel Beermen at the top. Alaska is hoping for a top 2 finish to guarantee a semifinals berth. Vic Manuel and Cyrus Baguio led Alaska with 13 points each. JVee Casio added 12 points, Dondon Hontiveros and RJ Jazul each had 11 while Sonny Thoss chipped in with 10. Cliff Hodge nearly took over the game for Meralco, posting 25 points and 13 rebounds. The energetic forward banged in 16 of his points in the final quarter, including a booming three-pointer in the final minute that tied the score at 81-all. But Jazul connected with a huge three-pointer of his own to give the lead back to Alaska. Meralco threatened anew with a Jared Dillinger basket to make it a one-point game again. But the Aces refused to wilt under pressure from the Bolts who were virtually fighting for survival. The Aces nailed three free throws in the final seconds to seal the win. Their eighth loss in nine games sent the Bolts to the brink of elimination with only two games left. Barako Bull 105, Talk N Text 98 (OT) Barako Bull put the handcuffs on the Talk N Text Tropang Texters in the extra period while Willy Wilson dished out a monster game to lead the Energy to a stunning 105-98 upset victory. Wilson dominated the paint, banging in 28 points on top of 20 rebounds. RR Garcia added 22 points while Gilas campaigner JC Intal chipped in with 12 points, 14 rebounds and four assists for the Energy. The win snapped the Energy's two-game losing streak as they improved to an even 4-4 mark, forcing a three-way tie from sixth to eighth place with idle NLEX and Barangay Ginebra. The Texters suffered their third loss in seven games and slid to solo fifth. After falling behind early in the game, the Energy caught up with the Texters and engaged the perennial title contender in a ferocious seesaw battle. Garcia was the main man for Barako Bull in the fourth quarter as he scored his team's last 10 points in regulation. The game needed an extra period as the score was tied at 97-all after four quarters. It was all Barako Bull in the five-minute extension, scoring eight points while allowing only a split from the charity stripe for TNT. Garcia hurt his shoulder while trying to block Jayson Castro and had to leave the game after sinking two free throws. Intal sealed the win for Barako Bull at the free throw line in the final minute, sinking the first with the second one unintentionally batted in by TNT's Moala Tautuaa to make the free throw a two-point shot credited to the closest Barako Bull to the basket, who happened to be Wilson. Tautuaa led Talk N Text with 20 points while fellow rookie Troy Rosario had 19 points and nine rebounds. Castro had 19 markers and six assists. Game Saturday: Barangay Ginebra Kings (4-4) vs. Blackwater Elite (1-6).
