Petron outruns Alaska for sixth straight win

Petron survived a dogfight against Alaska, 90-85, in front of a sizeable Tuesday crowd at the Araneta Coliseum to remain undefeated this month in the PBA Philippine Cup.   The Blaze Boosters again relied on lanky forward Arwind Santos in notching their sixth straight win as they continue to shadow defending champion Talk ‘N Text for the best record at the end of the eliminations.   Santos, the hero in Petron’s 76-75 win over the Meralco Bolts last week, answered the Boosters’ call once more. He scored four of Petron’s seven straight unanswered points in the final 99 seconds of the tightly-fought contest.   His basket with 58.8 seconds left shattered the game’s final deadlock and put the Boosters in front for good, 87-85.   Santos then capped his heroics by snaring the offensive rebound off a Danny Ildefonso missed free throw for a follow up basket that sealed Petron’s win.   Santos finished with 24 points on 11-of-22 shooting and had nine rebounds for the Boosters, who also got a brilliant all-around game from playmaker Alex Cabagnot with 20 points, five rebounds and five assists.   The Boosters, who enjoyed an 1803 lead early in the game, improved to 9-3 for solo second behind defending champion Tropang Texters’ 8-2 card.   “Before the game I told the players never to under-estimate Alaska," said Petron coach Ato Agustin. “They’re (Aces) still fighting to make the playoffs and they need this game badly."   Alaska, now 3-9 and in danger of missing the playoffs, appeared poised to pull an upset after unleashing a 9-0 run which Mac Baracael capped by giving the Aces the lead, 85-83, in the final 1:39.   But the Aces failed to buy a basket the rest of the way as the Boosters scored the game’s final seven points.   Denok Miranda tied the game at 85 setting up Petron’s lethal closing run.   Sonny Thoss paced Alaska with 19 markers and 19 rebounds while Baracael and LA Tenorio had 13 each.   Tenorio, however, committed two costly turnovers in the final 58 seconds. — JVP/KG, GMA News