GAINING some steam, Alaska kept its momentum going as it routed GlobalPort, 101-88, for its second straight win to keep its sagging hopes of making the Top 8 alive in the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Buck Henton continued his tear, producing game-highs of 36 points and 21 rebounds on top of four assists to spearhead the Aces.
Alaska, after snapping its 14-game losing streak and 0-6 start to the conference, has suddenly racked up two wins in a row to improve to 2-6 and keep its chances of making the quarterfinals alive.
On the other hand, GlobalPort suffered its second straight loss to fall to 3-5.
Entering the fourth with the game hanging in the balance with a 67-all count, Alaska stepped it up when it mattered in crunch time.
The Aces erected a decisive 12-4 run in the latter part of the period to carve a double-digit lead, 88-78, with around four minutes left.
They never looked back and finished the task to keep their tournament alive.
Calvin Abueva added 12 and Jvee Casio scored 11 for the Aces.
Batang Pier top gun Terrence Romeo, who averages 22.8 points per game, was limited by the Alaska defense and foul trouble to only five points in 26 minutes of play.
Once again, Stanley Pringle, who is taking a leave of absence to attend to his ailing father in the United States, missed the game for GlobalPort for the second straight time.
Action continues today as a critical match-up between top-tier teams takes place out of town.
Meralco (5-2) and Star (4-2), currently in third and fourth places, battle each other at 5 p.m. at the Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex in Laguna today to see who keeps its place inside the top four.
Both teams are coming off losses in their last assignments.
The scores:
ALASKA 101—Henton 36, Abueva 12, Casio 11, Thoss 10, Baclao 8, Racal 7, Encisio 7, Exciminiano 6, Banchero 2, Pascual 2, Mendoza 0, Cruz 0.
GLOBALPORT 88—Holloway 25, Anthony 19, Cardona 12, Guinto 10, Cortez 9, Romeo 5, Arana 4, Grey 2, Baracael 2, Celiz 0, Paredes 0.
Quarters: 26-18, 46-45, 67-67, 101-88.