BY JONAS TERRADO
ANTIPOLO CITY — Alaska capped off its big turnaround from a 0-5 start with a 106-90 upset of top seed NLEX to secure the last quarterfinals berth in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Ynares Center here.
Import Franko House once again provided the big numbers by posting 24 points, eight rebounds and five assists as the Aces finished the eliminations with a 5-6 record and a playoff spot in the first conference under coach Jeffrey Cariaso.
Rookie Abu Tratter, Jvee Casio and Kevin Racal added 12 points apiece and Robbie Herndon and Vic Manuel scored 10 each for Alaska, which secured the No. 7 seed in the quarters by virtue of a tiebreaker edge with NorthPort.
The Aces beat the Batang Pier 106-99 during the elims meeting.
Still to be determined is Alaska’s opponent in the quarters with TNT KaTropa or Meralco ending up at No. 2.
TNT can get the said ranking depending on the result of its match against San Miguel Beer or otherwise hand the No. 2 spot to Meralco.
Cariaso lauded his team for finally getting things on the right track after taking over as replacement for long-time mentor Alex Compton.
Alaska won five of its last six games to make it to the last eight.
“Obviously we know about the start we had but what we said that time is that it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” said Cariaso.
Alaska led by a high of 22 points 61-39, then denied NLEX a chance to complete a third comeback from a huge deficit this conference.
NLEX finished the elims at 8-3 but is assured of the No. 1 seed in the playoffs due to a superior quotient.
Import Manny Harris fired 22 points for the Road Warriors, who dropped their last two outings.
The scores:
ALASKA 106 — House 24, Casio 12, Racal 12, Tratter 12, Manuel 10, Herndon 10, Ahanmisi 8, Enciso 7, Ayaay 4, Brondial 4, Thoss 3, Galliguez 0.
NLEX 90 — Harris 22, Quinahan 17, Ravena 15, Ighalo 5, Soyud 4, Paniamogan 4, Miranda 2, Cruz 2, Alas 0, Fonacier 0.
Quarters: 33-23; 63-46; 81-65; 106-90.
