by Waylon Galvez
Games Wednesday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4:30 p.m. – Magnolia vs Columbian Dyip
7 p.m. – NLEX vs GlobalPort
Manuel played the starring the role in the victory – the team’s third straight after losing its opening assignment – that prompted coach Alex Compton to describe his performance as if he was an import.
“Minsan parang import si Vic (Sometimes, he plays like an import),” Compton said of the 6-foot-4 forward from Licab, Nueva Ecija.
“A lot of times, players just recognized and got him involved, just got it to him. He made the buckets in the end,” added Compton, whose team showed little signs of rust after a nine-day layoff.
The Aces played for the first time since their 134-103 rout of the Columbian Dyip last May 4.
Alaska forged a tie with TNT and Meralco at 3-1. Rain or Shine also held a similar record before its match with defending champion San Miguel which was being played at presstime.
Import Antonio Campbell had 23 points and 20 rebounds and Jvee Casio contributed 10 for the Aces, whose defense forced the KaTropa to just 38 percent shooting, including a 12-of-36 (33%) clip from three-point territory.
In comparison, Alaska shot 42-of-88 (47%) from the perimeter, and the Aces also controlled the rebounding department, 60-54. The bench of Alaska also outscored its TNT counterparts, 56-37.
Alaska led by a high of 25 points, 92-67, on Manuel’s basket with 10:50 remaining in the fourth.
Jayson Castro finished with 18 points for the KaTropa, who despite better productions from Terrence Romeo and import Jeremy Tyler failed to show the form that saw them win their first three games of the conference.
Romeo had 17 points while Tyler added 16 points despite a 6-of-15 shooting.
The scores:
ALASKA 110 – Manuel 29, Campbell 23, Casio 10, Abueva 9, Banchero 8, Racal 8, Enciso 7, Magat 7, Thoss 5, Teng 4, Baclao 0, Exciminiano 0, Potts 0.
TNT KATROPA 100 – Castro 18, Romeo 17, Tyler 16, Rosario 15, Cruz 10, Pogoy 9, Semerad 5, Trollano 5, Reyes 3, Paredes 2, Golla 0, Carey 0, Garcia 0, Saitanan 0.
Quarters: 34-26; 59-43; 85-67; 110-100.