Manuel carries Alaska to victory over Magnolia

The Alaska Aces claimed its share of second place as they defeated the Magnolia Hotshots, 103-99, at the Araneta Coliseum.

Vic Manuel carried the Aces to victory with 35 big points off the bench, including key runs in the final period that proved to be the difference. Antonio Campbell tallied 28 with 15 boards, as no other Alaska player scored in double figures.

With the win, Alaska improved to 6-1 to tie TNT for second. The two squads are just one game behind league-leading Rain or Shine (7-1). Magnolia, meanwhile, tied GlobalPort at 3-4, just behind Meralco (5-2), San Miguel (3-3), and Columbian (4-5).

Save for a brief period at the start of the game where the Hotshots led by five, the Aces were in control of the first half, going up by as many as 11 points midway through the second period.

The Aces were ahead by as many as nine to start the second half, before Magnolia uncorked a 23-10 blast to surge ahead, 62-56.

Alaska then rode Vic Manuel in the fourth, as the veteran big man scored eight straight to tie the game at 83-all with 5:37 left in the game. Seven more from Manual shoved the Aces ahead heading into the final 1:31, 96-93, before Jayvee Casio took over to put the game away.

Justin Jackson led Magnolia with 21 points, 13 boards, and six assists, while Paul Lee paced the locals with 21 points in 25 minutes off the bench. Justin Melton scored 14 with six rebounds and four assists, while Rafi Reaves, PJ Simon, Mark Barroca, and Rome Dela Rosa chipped in nine apiece for a balanced Magnolia attack. —KBK, GMA News