Games on Wednesday: (Cuneta Astrodome)

5:15 p.m. – B-Meg vs. Barako Bull
7:30 p.m. – Meralco vs. Petron


JUST as when Alaska thought everything was in its control, Rain or Shine suddenly got up from a slumber.

Even then, the Aces were more than ready for the challenge.

The 13-time champion franchise strangled Rain or Shine to a single field goal in the final four minutes and succeeded in holding back the Elasto Painters’ spirited comeback, carving out a 109-102 win in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night at the Araneta Coliseum.

Bouncing back from a 98-78 defeat to Barako Bull in their opening game, the Aces made the necessary stops down the stretch and knocked down the shots that repelled Rain or Shine to book its first win in the import-laced tournament, snapping a five-game losing streak dating back to the Philippine Cup.

“Tonight, the boys proved to themselves that if they wanted to make stops, they can make stops. Tonight, the boys proved to themselves that if they wanted to win, they can win,” said Alaska coach Joel Banal.

The victory will come as a big boost to the franchise that was one of two teams eliminated early in the season-opening conference. Last night, the Aces still displayed the solid poise they were known to possess, something that the Painters failed to deliver.

Cyrus Baguio connected on a triple after Rain or Shine seized back the lead at 97-96, and it proved to be the go-ahead basket. LA Tenorio followed it up with a long two-pointer, Bonbon Custodio converted a pair of free throws, and Tenorio again hit for two gift shots as Alaska took a 105-98 advantage with 43.4 seconds remaining in the game.

Rain or Shine, coming off a stint in the semi-finals against Powerade in the Philippine Cup, only had one field goal after import Duke Crews put the ball club on top with a jumper (97-96). It came with just 14.4 seconds left in the game, with the outcome already settled, on a semi-hook by Crews, 107-102.

Baguio finished with 25 points, and import Adam Parada collected monster numbers of 24 points and 20 rebounds for Alaska, which finally decided to set aside the Triangle Offense in favour of a more simple system.

“It’s easier to learn than to unlearn,” said Banal. “We’re putting the Triangle in the shelf, not totally abandoning it, and doing the easy stuff and keeping it simple. We talked about this last conference.”

Crews ended up with 34 points on 10-of-21 shooting from the field. Crews, though, missed two crucial free throws and a running shot in the final two minutes.

Jeff Chan added 18 points while rookie Paul Lee contributed 11 points for Rain or Shine, which wasted two chances to make the game much tighter in the end – a left-handed follow-up lay-up by Jervy Cruz with Alaska only up by 101-98 and a follow-up dunk by Gabe Norwood that could have trimmed the deficit to five.

Somewhat passive in his first game three days ago, Parada came out and went into an offensive mode. He had seven points in the first quarter, and added 11 more in the second, surpassing his output against the Energy with still seven minutes left before the halftime break.

His production was not enough, though, to lift the Aces to a commanding lead. Alaska just took a 55-49 lead after two periods, with Baguio getting 10 points.

Alaska actually peeled off from a tight 21-20 lead by unloading an 11-0 blast. The Aces led by as much as 13 in the first half, the last at 45-32 on a jumper from Parada.

Crews had 15 points in the first half for the Painters, while Chan added 14.


The scores:

Alaska (109) — Baguio 25, Parada 24, Tenorio 19, Custodio 12, Thoss 8, Salamat 7, Eman 6, Baracael 4, Reyes 4.

Rain or Shine (102) — Crews 34, Chan 18, Lee 11, Cruz 8, Arana 8, Norwood 6, Belga 6, Quinahan 4, Buenafe 3, Jaime 2, Ibanes 2, Matias 0.

Quarterscores: 28-20, 55-49, 85-74, 109-102.