PBA: Aces extend win streak to three, drub Express

(Updated 8:23pm) After starting the 2012-13 Philippine Cup with a pair of losses, the Alaska Aces have picked up a three-of-a-kind - wins. The revitalized Aces led from start to finish, improving to 3-2 in the standings with a 92-81 win over the luckless Air21 Express, extending their losing streak to four, Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. "The last time Alaska won three straight games was when Jason Forte was the import in July [of 2011]," said Alaska head coach Luigi Trillo. "But its baby steps. It's nice to get our third. If you look at it defensively, we've been working hard on defense. We started well defensively." Veteran Dondon Hontiveros had five of Alaska's seven points to start the game and it was all downhill from there for Air21, as they had no answer for the Aces' firepower. Hontiveros and Calvin Abueva combined for 16 markers, while Mark Isip tried to keep the Express in the game with eight of his own. Still, it wasn't enough as coach Franz Pumaren's wards fell behind by nine, 26-17, heading into the second quarter. There, Cyrus Baguio took over with 11 big points, while Abueva added another six, to make it a 17-point advantage for Alaska at the break, 50-33. Out of the intermission, a triple by Hontiveros made it 56-36, a 20-point buffer that a Sonny Thoss basket matched at 66-46, a few minutes later, as Alaska was comfortably in the driver's seat. However, the Express began reeling their foes in. Former Alaska Aces Bonbon Custodio got a measure of revenge, scoring 11, while KG Cañaleta added five. All-in-all, Air21 out-scored Alaska 27-24, to bring their deficit down to 14, heading into the final period. With Baguio ruled out of the game after suffering a hyperextended knee, the Express continued to run rampant. Jumpers by Custodio and Nonoy Baclao sliced brought the Alaska lead down to nine, 79-70, but Jvee Casio opened up the final two minutes with a lay-up to make it 88-73, with 1:48 left. Back-to-back hits by Air21 made it an 11-point affair with 64 seconds to go, but Casio was quick to add two more from the stripe, to ice their victory. 2012 second overall pick Calvin Abueva continued to impress, notching a second double-double in as many games, 16 points and 12 rebounds off the bench. Casio meanwhile led the scoring brigade with 19 markers, while Baguio and Hontiveros chimed in 15 apiece. Bonbon Custodio meanwhile scored a team-high 20 on 8-of-17 shooting, while fellow reserve KG Cañaleta added 16. Isip finished with just four points after his first quarter explosion to tally 12 all-in-all, while John Wilson was held to a mere seven markers. Sloppy play by the Express made the Aces' job that much easier. They committed 24 turnovers, which Alaska happily converted into 29 points. Alaska also shot better from outside, hitting a 33.3 percent clip (6-of-18), compared to a mere 18.8 percent for Air21 (3-of-16). - Renee Fopalan / AMD, GMA News The scores: ALASKA 92 - Casio 19, Abueva 16, Baguio 15, Hontiveros 15, Thoss 11, Espinas 8, Reyes 4, Jazul 2, Baracael 2, Laure 0, Dela Cruz 0 AIR21 81 - Custodio 20, Canaleta 16, Isip 12, Baclao 10, Wilson 7, Taha 6, Reyes 4, Omolon 4, Arboleda 2, Atkins 0, Sena 0, Escobal 0, Ritualo 0 Quarter scoring: 26-17, 50-33, 74-60, 92-81