PBA: Alaska Aces clinch best record in Commissioner's Cup with comeback effort versus GlobalPort

(Updated 7:54pm) The Alaska Aces made sure they'd finish the 2013 PBA Commissioner's Cup with the best record, via a come-from-behind effort against the league's cellar dwellers, GlobalPort Batang Pier, 93-92, Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The Aces close their elimination round campaign with an 11-3 record, while the Batang Pier saw their losing streak stretch to a whopping 10 games, for a 2-11 card. However, GlobalPort can still play the spoiler's role if Petron (7-5) defeats eighth-seeded Air21 (5-8) on Saturday, and Barako Bull (4-8) wins against Rain or Shine later tonight. The Batang Pier can then foil Barako Bull's playoff bid when they face off on Sunday. Alaska head coach Luigi Trillo admitted that as a non-bearing game his team struggled to get the job done, citing the Aces' lack of sharpness and focus. "I wasn't pleased in the end, where we had stretches when we were solid and there were stretches when we turned the ball over," said Trillo. "But without Cy [Baguio] and Sonny [Thoss], I'll take it." Baguio and Thoss were sidelined tonight to nurse nagging injuries in preparation for the quarterfinals. Alaska went on a 21-5 romp in the fourth quarter to establish a 10-point lead with three minutes left to play. However, GlobalPort suddenly woke up, as they slashed to the rim for a 9-4 run, making it 91-86 on split charities by Gary David. David was far from finished, as he was unconscious from beyond the arc. The GlobalPort star nailed another triple, then added three charities off a fouled long-ball attempt, countering a Robert Dozier dunk to get within one, 93-92. Off a timeout, the Aces tried to add to their buffer, but all they got was a turnover, as Jason Deutchman bounced the ball off Jazul to steal possession with 19.4 seconds still to play. The Batang Pier then called their timeout, but David's shot was rejected by Dozier. The loose ball fell into the hands of Reed Juntilla, but the veteran forward missed the shot. Still, GlobalPort got one more chance when Calvin Abueva couldn't secure the rebound and it went out of bounds, 0.6 seconds remaining on the clock. This time though, David was smothered off the inbounds and wasn't able to get a shot off before the buzzer sounded. Dozier led Alaska with 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Calvin Abueva added 17 points and 14 rebounds, while RJ Jazul had 14 points, four rebounds and four steals. Jvee Casio and Dondon Hontiveros chipped in 11 points apiece, while Casio also handed out 11 assists. In the first quarter, the Aces got baskets inside off cutters in the lane. GlobalPort's offense looked rougher in comparison but benefited from offensive rebounds by Sly Morgan. The import put up second-chance points to give his team an early 11-10 lead. With five minutes to play the Aces kept GlobalPort off the glass while drawing contact at the other end. Alaska went on a 10-3 flush in the last three minutes, capped by a Dondon Hontiveros triple, to take a 22-18 lead after the first period. GlobalPort held a 16-9 advantage in rebounding, 10-2 offensive, for a 7-2 margin in second-chance points in the first period. The points offset an 8-of-25 shooting clip (32 percent) versus Alaska's 7-of-16 mark (43.8 percent). Both teams appeared lackluster in the second quarter as Willie Miller forced shots against an awkward reserve Alaska line-up. But the Aces managed to pad their lead behind Calvin Abueva's efforts, as he scored six of their first nine points, 31-26. Batang Pier began to pick up steam after a Jondan Salvador put-back, and they began to assert themselves in the paint. Gary David then pulled up in transition for three and hauled GlobalPort within one, 37-36. Nic Belasco replied shortly for Alaska, and they held their on from the free throw line, managed to keep the lead for most of the last three minutes. However, Jason Deutchman nailed a trey in the dying seconds to edge Batang Pier ahead at halftime, 46-45. The Aces made 13-of-17 free throws in the first half (76.5 percent), compared to GlobalPort's 6-of-9 mark (66.7 percent). Alaska came out flat when play resumed, unable to hit from the floor nor able to check David's aggressive play. Though GlobalPort reached the foul limit early, Batang Pier hung a 60-52 lead on the Aces on charities by Reed Juntilla. GlobalPort made only four triples in the first half, but suddenly had just as many in this period as consecutive hits by Jaypee Belencion and Rudy Lingganay made it a 72-57 game with a minute and a half to play. Meanwhile Alaska had just two field goals since two minutes into the quarter, until RJ Jazul forced a steal and ran down the court by himself, beating the quarter buzzer to dig into the deficit, which stood at 72-66 after three quarters. The Aces made only 4-of-17 from the field in the third period (23.5 percent). The Batang Pier forced Alaska into seven turnovers in the quarter, doubling the Aces' error tally thus far, to produce a 15-5 margin in turnover points in the third. Abueva opened the fourth period with a trey to reinvigorate the ailing Aces. Alaska's role players quickly made up the gap, as Tony Dela Cruz and RJ Jazul scored 11 in the ensuing 15-5 run, as an Jazul triple planted Alaska on top, 81-77. The Aces staked out their claim on the defensive end, stifling Batang Pier while they piled on the easy points in transition to take an 89-77 lead, right before GlobalPort made their last stand. After three quarters, Alaska was shooting 35.8 percent from the floor but made 11-of-19 field goals in the fourth quarter for 30-of-72 overall (41.7 percent). On the other hand, GlobalPort's 41.3 percent mark plummeted to 31-of-85 overall  (36.5 percent) after going 5-of-22 in the last 12 minutes. Batang Pier finished with a 26-24 margin in turnover points and 17-12 on second-chance points. Gary David led all scorers with 29 points, including 3-of-7 from deep and 11-of-14 free throws. Sly Morgan was the only other player in double figures, notching 17 points and 14 boards. - AMD, GMA News The scores: Alaska 93 - Dozier 18, Abueva 17, Jazul 14, Casio 11, Hontiveros 11, Espinas 8, Dela Cruz 8, Belasco 4, Ramos 2, Reyes 0, Eman 0, Laure 0 GlobalPort 92 - David 29, Morgan 17, Lingganay 7, Juntilla 7, Aljamal 7, Aguilar 5, Miller 5, Salvador 4, Deutchman 3, Mandani 0, Yee 0 Quarter-scoring: 22-18, 45-46, 66-72, 93-92