Jay R. Gotera Saudi Gazette MANILA — When “The Beast” is at his best, expect the Alaska Aces to be at their finest. So it did not come as a surprise Saturday when the super-rookie, Calvin Abueva, led the Aces to a pulsating 101-95 win over the GlobalPort Batang Pier in a PBA Philippine Cup road game in Dipolog City. It was only his second game after being hospitalized for a nasal infection. Alaska's high-leaping 6'3” dynamo posted his fifth double-double in his young career finishing with 21 points and 12 rebounds to power the Aces to their second straight victory. Abueva's best highlight reel of the night came in the third quarter when he stole the ball from former MVP Willie Miller and raced home for a dunk to extend the Aces' lead to 56-44. With a 7-6 win-loss card, Alaska tied the Meralco Bolts at fifth to sixth place in the standings, with only one game left in their schedule before the playoffs. Alaska is targeting a spot not lower than sixth place since the seventh and eighth-place teams have the tall order of defeating twice the second- and first-place teams, respectively, in the quarterfinals for them to advance to the semifinals. The third-placer faces the sixth placer, while the fourth- and fifth-placed teams battle in best-of-three quarterfinals series. Long-time cellar-dweller GlobalPort officially crashed out of the conference after suffering its eighth straight defeat and 11th overall in 12 games. Alaska led from start to finish. However, the Aces had to use all their wits and firepower in the homestretch as the Batang Pier managed to cut Alaska's 12-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter to just two points, 79-77, on a series of baskets by Rey Guevarra. The Aces responded with a 7-0 blast, but the Batang Pier chipped the lead to just five, 86-81, with two minutes remaining. But Alaska would not be denied the victory as Jvee Casio and Tony dela Cruz repulsed the GlobalPort rally with their steady performance at the free throw line. Casio chipped in with 18 points, while Dela Cruz, Cyrus Baguio, and Mac Baracael had 11 markers each for Alaska. Willie Miller led GlobalPort with 22 points with most of his production coming in the homestretch. Guevarra finished 17 points, while Vic Manuel had 16.
