ALASKA's steely resolve to go out of the PBA Governors' Cup with a bang was on full display anew Saturday. Jeron Teng typified it best for the Aces, exploding for 14 of his game- and career-high 30 points in the fourth quarter that enabled them to complete a come-from-behind 102-97 win over Terrafirma at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Teng was at his hottest in the endgame, where he repeatedly defied the defense thrown at him by not only driving in for the go-ahead basket before scoring six more during Alaska's decisive surge in the last 2:40 of play.
As a result, Alaska emerged with the victory, its third straight that came on the heels of an 80-74 decision over Rain or Shine just last Thursday, while improving to a 5-2 record, a scenario that was far from most everybody's minds when it trailed by as much as 61-81, late in the third quarter.
Coach Jeff Cariaso said it was a simple matter of getting his charges in sync. "I felt like we were helping them (Dyip)... with us not being in position, not being helping out, miscommunication, guys weren't talking," he related.
"When we cleaned that up, that's when things got better. We hit a couple of shots and tuloy-tuloy na," added Cariaso.
The loss, which came after it snapped out of a three-game slide by beating Blackwater 109-103 last Saturday, should be a bitter one and not only because it dropped the team down to a 2-5 slate.
The Dyip seemed in perfect control after erupting for 35 points while holding their foes to just 24 in the third period to go into the final canto with an 83-66 lead.
Terrafirma's touch soured just as Alaska found its groove, however, leading to the former's output of just 14 points against Alaska's 36 in the final 12 minutes that mattered most.
After being limited to just seven points in the Rain or Shine game, Teng went 13-for-18 from the field this time and also had five rebounds and two assists while Abu Tratter notched a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds. Import Olu Ashaolu only had 11 points on 3-of-9 shooting but anchored the Aces' defense with a game-high 19 rebounds on top of six assists.
Former San Sebastian teammates Allyn Bulanadi and RK Ilagan actually started their fightback with the southpaw gunner stringing up seven straight points and the latter four capped by a jumper that made it a 91-93 count.
After Antonio Hester capped his triple double performance of 24 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists with a charity, Alex Stockton drove in to bring Alaska within 93-94 before Teng took over. (NC)
The scores:
Alaska 102 - Teng 30, Tratter 21, Ashaolu 11, Bulanadi 10, Ahanmisi 7, DiGregorio 4, Ilagan 4, Stockton 4, Herndon 4, Faundo 4, Tolomia 3, Racal 0, Adamos 0, Publico 0.
Terrafirma 97 - Hester 24, Munzon 21, Tiongson 16, Go 11, Calvo 8, Daquioag 8, Cahilig 5, Camson 4, Pascual 0, Ramos 0, Batiller 0.
Quarters: 20-25, 42-48, 66-83, 102-97. (PBA)
(Photo credits to: PBA)