PBA: Alaska stays spotless, keeps Ginebra winless

The Alaska Aces solidified their hold atop the standings with a victory over Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 84-69, Saturday at the Mindanao Civic Center in Tubod, Lanao del Norte. Sonny Thoss, the best player of the game, registered 16 points and five rebounds on 7-of-8 shooting from the field. The loss hands Ginebra a conference-worst 0-4 card, a half-game behind their sister team, San Miguel Coffee Mixers (0-3). Both teams went back and forth in the first quarter, but Ginebra kept themselves alive with multiple offensive boards. Mark Caguioa scored seven early points and drained a triple to knot the score with four minutes to play, 13-13. However, things went south for Ginebra as they committed multiple turnovers. The Aces capitalized on the other end, as Gabby Espinas and import Robert Dozier closed the quarter with an 8-4 stretch, 21-17. Alaska pounced on a dazed Ginebra squad in the second quarter, taking advantage of more turnovers and mismatches to open up a double-digit lead on a turnaround jumper by Sonny Thoss, 31-21. Ginebra regrouped as import Vernon Macklin exploded for a two-handed dunk after missing his first six field goals. The slam energized Ginebra, as JJ Helterbrand and Kerby Raymundo also put points on the board. However they couldn't take care of business on the other end of the floor. The Aces replied with relative ease, as Espinas and Dondon Hontiveros nearly matched Ginebra to the basket, 41-30. The momentum swung in the final four minutes in Ginebra's favor after Macklin converted an and-one play, followed by several of Caguioa's drives to add five straight for Ginebra. To make matters worse for the Aces, LA Tenorio hit a charity off a technical on Alaska head coach Luigi Trillo with 45 seconds to play, and Ginebra closed the period on a 9-2 swing to get within four, 43-39. Both teams struggled to find an offensive groove when play resumed, but intermittent baskets were enough for the Aces to keep a 49-46 lead. Ginebra, however, had already reached the foul limit halfway through the quarter, thanks to Dozier and Thoss' drives to the rim. Puzzlingly, Alaska were not able to capitalize by getting to the free throw line. Instead, it was Macklin who erupted with two powerful slams and uncorked seven straight points for Ginebra. But that offense vanished in the final three minutes of the quarter. Instead it was Dozier's turn to shine, draining a 16-footer and a trey to briefly douse Ginebra. Jvee Casio also added two charities, to end the period on a 7-1 note, 61-54. In the fourth quarter, Ginebra floundered in the halfcourt set and the Aces began to pull away behind the efforts of Dozier and Cyrus Baguio. An off-balance jumper by the swingman gave Alaska a 13-point lead, 73-60, with six minutes gone in the period. Both teams sputtered down the stretch as easy shots refused to fall through, but Caguioa poured in five points in a 9-2 stretch to bring his team within single digits. But the reigning MVP was rejected on a drive with two minutes to play. Baguio was fouled during the Aces' ensuing transition attack and split from the line. Dozier and Calvin Abueva trooped to the line as well, and a couple more buckets by Baguio and Casio iced the win for Alaska. — AMD, GMA News