PBA: Alaska trio combines for 68 for first win

Jvee Casio, Cyrus Baguio, and Mac Baracael combined for 68 points as the Alaska Aces got their first win of the season at the expense of the Barako Bull Energy Cola, 102-86, Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. "It's a joy to see them scratch and claw," said Alaska's Luigi Trillo, who was promoted to the head coaching job after an interim stint during the 2012 Governors' Cup. "We got punished in the first two games. We haven't been playing good defense. We brought energy to this game." “Akala ko matatagalan pa e,” added Trillo. The win, for the young coach and the retooled team, could not have come soon enough. Before the season started, the Alaska Aces were named the dark horse of the Philippine Cup. Even after losing starting point guard LA Tenorio, the outlook was tremendous for the Aces, who went back to the old and reliable Triangle System. “We went 7 and 1 in the pre-season but when we came here, San Mig beat us up,” admitted Trillo. “It’s nice to see the energy from the guys.” The Aces used a commanding 13-1 run late into the fourth quarter to quell a Barako Bull rally for what was an elusive first win. Alaska found themselves down early, 20-8, before Sam Eman muscled his way down low, 23-16. Outside shots from RJ Jazul and Tony Dela Cruz cut the deficit even further for Alaska to end the quarter with Barako only up four, 25-21. In the second, Alaska waxed hot from the outside, as Casio and Jazul hit clutch threes to grab the lead, 31-28. Afterwards, it was Baguio who heated up, hitting tough fadeaways to keep the Aces ahead. Barako responded with Urbiztondo and Najorda, who re-established the lead before Baguio hit a three to end the period with the two teams tied, 48-all. Come the third, Rico Villanueva and Mick Pennisi worked their way inside to establish a 62-52 advantage, but the trio of Casio, Baracael, and Baguio clicked from the outside to take the lead at the end of the third, 81-65. The fourth had Leo Najorda cutting the Alaska lead to just eight points at 85-77, followed by a three from Josh Urbiztondo and two baskets from the Enrico Villanueva to slice it further to just one, 85-84, but Baracael and Baguio combined for nine straight points to kill the rally and seal the deal for the Aces. “Madami pa kaming kakainin. The other teams are super talented,” Trillo said after the game. “We got some pieces but we want to bring in the hard work.” The Alaska big men had to work double time as they missed the services of forward Gabby Espinas. Trillo also shared that starting center Sonny Thoss was suffering from LBM. “At the start he was struggling,” Trillo said, “but in the second half he did the dirty work.” Thoss was not able to score a single point, but his defense against Villanueva, along with six rebounds and four blocks made a huge difference in the game. — BM/AMD, GMA News The scores: Alaska 102: Casio 24, Baguio 23, Baracael 21, dela Cruz 10, Eman 9, Jazul 6, Reyes 5, Laure 2, Hontiveros 2, Thoss 0, Belasco 0 Barako Bull 86: Villanueva 22, Tubid 16, Urbiztondo 14, Pennisi 14, Anthony 10, Najorda 9, Yap 1, Marcelo 0, Alvarez 0, Kramer 0, Cruz 0 Quarter scoring: 21-25, 28-28, 81-65, 102-86