by Jonas Terrado
Games Friday (Mall of Asia Arena)
4:30 p.m. – Phoenix Pulse vs NLEX
7 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs NorthPort
Injury-stricken Alaska made an immediate turnaround following a dismal debut over the weekend after clobbering Columbian, 94-72, in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Carl Bryan Cruz topscored with 20 points while Jake Pascual posted 13 points and a career-high 13 rebounds as the Aces, playing with just 10 men, bounced back from Sunday’s 85-72 loss to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at the same venue.
Ping Exciminiano and Chris Banchero added 12 and 10 points while combining for six assists in the victory that saw the Aces lead by a high of 30 in the second half.
The Aces played their second game without key players Vic Manuel, Jvee Casio, Simon Enciso and Kevin Racal due to injuries.
Their absence opened room for other players to get more minutes while thriving at the same time.
Sophomore forward Jeron Teng and rookie MJ Ayaay scored eight points apiece and seldom-used Davon Potts hit nine points on 3-of-6 from the field.
“We only dressed 10 players. All of them played, but all of them played hard,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton.
Veteran center Sonny Thoss and Nonoy Baclao combined for 10 points and 10 rebounds, providing steady support for Pascual in the paint.
Compton also praised Alaska’s defense that limited Columbian to just 36 percent from the field and 15 turnovers.
Top overall pick CJ Perez produced 15 points and five rebounds and Jackson Corpuz 12 points and six boards but the Dyip suffered their third straight setback, dropping to 2-4.
The Dyip have lost by an average of 14.3 points during the skip and showing little signs of a promising start that saw coach Johnedel Cardel’s wards win two of the first three games.
“Really, really proud of our defense which won us the game,” Compton said.
The scores:
ALASKA 94 – Cruz 20, Pascual 13, Exciminiano 12, Banchero 10, Potts 9, Teng 8, Ayaay 8, Baclao 6, Thoss 4, Galliguez 4.
COLUMBIAN 72 – Perez 15, Corpuz 12, Khobuntin 8, Cabrera 6, Reyes 5, Escoto 5, Gabriel 5, Cahilig 4, Camson 4, Calvo 4, McCarthy 2, Tabi 2, Agovida 0.
Quarters: 20-13, 46-36, 68-50, 94-72.
