MANILA, Philippines -- (UDATED) The Alaska Aces bolstered their playoff hopes in the PBA All-Filipino Cup after beating the Mahindra Floodbuster, 107-91, on Sunday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
The Aces hiked their record to 5-4, putting them in a temporary tie for second place pending the result of the second game between Phoenix and Ginebra.
Mahindra dropped to 2-7 and are now formally eliminated from the playoff race.
The Aces finally broke the game open in the fourth quarter, with Dondon Hontiveros providing a boost off the bench and Calvin Abueva hitting the baskets that put down the gritty Mahindra team for good.
Abueva had 18 points and 10 boards, while Hontiveros scored all of his seven points in the final quarter. Vic Manuel top-scored for the Aces with 20 points off the bench, as Alaska shot 54% from the field and had a 49-34 advantage on the glass.
It was Hontiveros' three-pointer at the 9:43 mark of the fourth quarter that put Alaska ahead for good, 79-76, after Mahindra overcame a 14-point deficit in the third period to tie the game.
The Floodbuster remained in striking distance after an Alex Mallari lay-up made it 79-84 with still seven minutes left, but Alaska responded with an 11-2 blast that restored a double-digit lead, 96-81. Abueva ended the run with a booming three-pointer that came after he and Mahindra rookie Joseph Eriobu were both given technical fouls for a verbal altercation.
A jumper by Mallari and a triple from rookie Russel Escoto kept Mahindra afloat, but Abueva and Hontiveros dealt the knockout blows as they canned back-to-back three-pointers.
Abueva's last triple with 1:23 left made it 103-86, and both coaches sent in their benches soon after.
"Tony (dela Cruz) and Dondon changed the game for us in the second half," said Alaska coach Alex Compton after the game. "It's a real benefit to have that kind of quality leader in your teams. I'm grateful to have those guys on my team, and they made good plays."
The game featured a tight first quarter that saw Mahindra battle back after falling behind 0-6 early in the frame. Three-pointers from Reden Celda and Jeric Teng helped the Floodbuster claw their way back in the contest. A nifty out-of-bounds play that saw LA Revilla assist Escoto on an alley-oop lay-up allowed Mahindra to tie the game at 27 after the first period.
Alaska pulled away in the second quarter as they got contributions from a variety of players. Ping Exciminiano provided a boost off the bench on both ends, stopping Mallari on one end then assisting on a breakaway lay-up on the other. It was Manuel who eventually gave Alaska its first double-digit lead of the game, with his and-1 play with less than a minute left putting the Aces on top, 53-42.
The Aces looked as though they had pulled away in the third period, after Dela Cruz and JVee Casio conspired to put Alaska ahead by 14 points, 66-52, with under six minutes left. But the Floodbuster responded with a 15-2 run that made it a one-point game, 67-68, with still 2:41 left.
A three-pointer by Escoto tied the game at 72 with 46 seconds to go, but two free throws by RJ Jazul gave Alaska back the advantage. The two teams went back-and-forth early in the final frame, with Mallari tying the game for the last time at 79 before Abueva and Hontiveros took charge to push the Aces ahead for good.
Mallari led Mahindra with 23 points and eight assists, but he also committed seven turnovers and was called for a technical foul late in the second frame after slamming the ball to the court out of frustration. The rookies Escoto and Eriobu combined for 31 points off the bench.
ALASKA 107 - Manuel 20, Abueva 18, Casio 11, Jazul 9, Racal 9, Dela Cruz 7, Galliguez 7, Hontiveros 7, Thoss 5, Mendoza 5, Magat 3, Pascual 2, Exciminiano 2, Cruz 2.
MAHINDRA 91 - Mallari 23, Escoto 16, Eriobu 15, Celda 10, Deutchman 9, Teng 7, Ballesteros 4, Paniamogan 3, Elorde 2, Yee 2, Revilla 0, Salva 0, Gallanza 0, Digregorio 0.
Quarter scores: 27-27, 53-42, 74-72, 107-91
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