PBA: Late treys, Dozier's 20-20 push Aces past Beermen in Laguna

Clutch shots from deep were what the Alaska Aces needed to defeat the San Miguel Beermen, 89-78, Saturday, in PBA Commissioner's Cup action held in Biñan, Laguna.

The defending champs Aces are now at 3-3 having won back-to-back, putting them in a tie with the Meralco Bolts and the Air21 Express. The Beermen on the other hand saw their three-game win streak snapped, for a 5-2 card, still good for second place.

Import Rob Dozier had 20 points and 20 rebounds while hitting 10-of-10 from the stripe to lead the Aces.

It was a back and forth encounter to start the first, as Cyrus Baguio and Dondon Hontiveros knotted it up at six-all. The two teams found their way into the lane in the final two and a half minutes, as an RJ Jazul and-one put the Aces ahead, 11-10. Sol Meracdo was able to salvage a pair of charities from the line, though, as the Beermen snagged a one-point advantage after one, 12-11.

Gabby Espinas came alive in the second, drowning out every San Miguel rally early on. Six points from the former PCU Dolphin bumped the lead to three, while Baguio and Sonny Thoss abused the Beermen with their inside-outside game for an eight-point spread, 24-16. Kevin Jones and Chris Lutz tried to keep the lead manageable, but Jayvee Casio and Rob Dozier found their spots for a double-digit cushion, 29-19.

Twin triples from Hontiveros were enough to keep the lead at nine, but Mercado heated up late for treys as well. The Aces still led though after two periods, 37-32.

San Mig then leaned on their defense in the third, going on an 8-0 run capped off by charities from Santos. Jazul stopped the bleeding with an ad-lib of a move, but a Jones transition trey kept the Beermen humming, 50-42.

The Aces responded by getting their running game going, as Calvin Abueva, Dozier and Baguio got the defending champions to within a point, 51-50. Crisp cuts then led to an Espinas basket, pushing the Aces ahead, but the Beermen soon found success in their drive and dish plays with less than two minutes remaining, 59-57. Casio and Tubid converted from deep, as Dozier whipped the ball to an open Tony Dela Cruz to tie the game after three, 62-62.

Jayvee Casio and Rob Dozier tried to dispatch the Beermen at the start of the fourth, but Paolo Hubalde's gutsy play and sticky defense kept the two teams even, 72-all.

Tied at 76-all with 5:37 remaining, the Aces committed a shotclock violation, and Sol Mercado capitalized with a layup. Alaska then went to Casio anew, and the point guard did not disappoint, hitting a three for the one-point lead. Dozier and Baguio decided to join the scoring party, finally connecting when it mattered for an 84-78 advantage.

Sol Mercado decided to put one up but his attempt bounced long, while June Mar Fajardo's put-back also couldn't find the bottom of the net. Another Santos miss from downtown virtually sealed the win for Alaska, as a pair of free throws from Baguio put the game away.

Cyrus Baguio added 15 points, two rebounds, an assist and a block for Alaska, while Jvee Casio chipped in 14 points, 12 on three-pointers, along with nine rebounds. The Aces survived poor outings from Calvin Abueva and Sonny Thoss, both of whom were shackled by foul trouble. They combined for just four points on 2-of-12 shooting.

San Miguel Beer was led by June Mar Fajardo's double-double of 14 points and 22 rebounds. Sol Mercado came off the bench for 14 points, while import Kevin Jones had a quiet 11 markers on 4-of-17 shooting.

Alaska's defense held San Miguel to a woeful 28.7 percent clip from the field, while they hit 43.5 percent of their own attempts. Despite having 10 less offensive rebounds, the Aces somehow out-scored their foes in second-chance points, 11-4. - AMD, GMA News


The scores:

Alaska 89 - Dozier 20, Baugio 15, Casio 14, Jazul 10, Espinas 10, Hontiveros 8, Manuel 6, Dela Cruz 2, Abueva 2, Thoss 2, Reyes 0

San Miguel 78 - Fajardo 14, Mercado 14, Santos 13, Jones 11, Tubid 6, Hubalde 5, Kramer 4, Ross 4, Lutz 4, Lassiter 3, Lanete 0

Quarter scoring: 11-12, 37-32, 62-62, 89-78