Games tomorrow: (Cuneta Astrodome)
4:00 p.m. – Air21 vs. Alaska
6:30 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs. Ginebra

ALASKA ominously came to within the brink of defeat Friday night. Somehow, the Aces managed to pull off an escape, and now they’re on the edge of making the semi-finals.

Fresh from a classic victory, Alaska tonight shoots to sweep its quarter-finals series against Air21, hoping that the Express would find it hard to recover from the painful Game One loss in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Ginebra also tries to set up an early meeting with Smart-Gilas in the Final Four, eyeing to finish off Rain or Shine in their own series.

The Aces’ 91-89 win was the one that stood out. Alaska conquered Air21 despite getting bludgeoned in the battle off the boards, 61-46. The Aces gave away a season-high 33 offensive rebounds, too, that resulted to another season-best, 35 second-chance points for the Express.

Sonny Thoss hit the winning shot off a follow-up with 0.4 seconds left to play, but it was LA Tenorio who triggered the comeback when the Express looked to be in control and well on their way to a stunning upset after clutching an 84-76 lead with 3:29 remaining in the contest.

Tenorio hit three triples from there, the last one tying the count at 89, before Air21 bungled its possession on a missed shot by Wynne Arboleda. The Aces did not call time-out, and Tenorio drove strong to the basket and failed to connect on a runner. Air21 failed to box out Thoss, who was just underneath the basket to put the ball back in with a one-handed  follow-up.

The epic win clearly reflected how organized these Aces are. And now, Alaska is even more pumped up to put an end on Air21’s ambitions of advancing to the semi-finals.

“It’s not over until it’s over, as they say,” said Alaska coach Tim Cone. “But I’d rather be 1-0 up than 1-0 down.”

Without a doubt, it was one of those victories that had a bizarre ending, and Air21 blew the chance to take the series opener and forgot that Alaska isn’t a beaten ball club until there’s time left at the game clock.

Yet there’s something that bugs Cone at this point.

“The last time we were in this situation, we lost,” said Cone, recalling an incident that occurred in the season-opening Philippine Cup quarter-finals. “We won against Ginebra in Game One but lost the next two games. So we have to be careful.”

A victory by Alaska will arrange a best-of-five duel with Talk ‘N Text, the No. 1 seed.

The Kings, too, have to be careful thinking that their series against the Elasto Painters is nearing its end.

“We have to be ready to grind the game out,” said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico.

Ginebra held import Hassan Adams to a conference-low 12 points, but it hardly mattered to Uichico, who was upset at the way the Kings took the game easy in the second half, particularly in the third quarter.

“Hassan just had a bad day,” said Uichico. “We need to put a better effort defensively.”

The Kings limited the Painters to 34 first-half points, but relaxed the rest of the way. When the game had ended, Rain or Shine was able to score 91 after scoring 31 third-quarter points that cut down a 20-point deficit (58-38) to within 70-65.

If Rain or Shine intends to prolong the series, it must get the numbers from its import.

“Hassan has to step up and assert himself,” said Painters’ coach Yeng Guiao. “The series is not yet over. I’m happy with my locals. We just need to challenge their three-point shots and work harder defending their import.”

While Adams struggled, Nate Brumfield did everything for the Kings. He scored 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting, while Mark Caguioa added 20. Ronald Tubid hit 12 first-quarter points and finished with 18 on 5-of-eight shooting from the three-point area.

“It takes one more win to get into the next round,” Uichico said. “What we must do now is not relax and think that the series is 0-0 going into Sunday’s (today’s) game.”