PBA: Aces defeat Barako, keep postseason hopes alive

The Alaska Aces leaned on the duo of Jayvee Casio and Cyrus Baguio in the fourth quarter to defeat Barako Bull Energy Cola, 89-80, on Sunday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum, and keep alive their postseason hopes in the 2013-14 PBA Philippine Cup.

"[We] live to fight another day. It's been painful this conference. Out of nine games, six games could've gone either way," said Alaska head coach Luigi Trillo.

With the win, the Aces earned a playoff against the Meralco Bolts on Monday for the final postseason spot and the right to battle the number one overall seed Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. Barako Bull meanwhile settled for sixth place, pitting them against the Petron Blaze Boosters in a best-of-three series.

The other such draw will be between #4 Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters, regardless of the outcome of their game later today versus Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, and #5 San Mig Coffee Mixers

"We're playing Meralco; we need to move forward," added Trillo. "Highest respects for coach Ryan [Gregorio]. We know what Gary [David] and Jared [Dillinger] can do. It's a real nice opportunity for us; players dream of this kind of situation where you can turn things around."

Trillo also recognized that their team faces a tough task in battling a gritty, veteran team in Meralco:

"We're facing a team that's hungry. There are new guys there that want to win. We need guys helping out. They're gonna be ready for everybody. Hopefully, we learn and we grow."

[Related: David, Dillinger do it all as Bolts burn Aces]

The last time those two teams played, Alaska's Calvin Abeuva and Meralco's Jared Dillinger got into a physical confrontation that later resulted in the duo being fined.

[Related: Fines but no suspensions for Dillinger, Abueva]

A flurry of points to start the first had Alaska up 9-2 after a Jayvee Casio triple. Cyrus Baguio and Sonny Thoss padded the lead even further, before Casio connected again from deep, 20-12. Free throws from Ronjay Bienafe and Willy Wilson, followed by a Keith Jensen buzzer-beater, made up some ground for Barako, but they ended the first with the Aces still ahead, 22-17.

Barako mounted their comeback early in the second, cutting the lead to four after a Jensen drive, 29-25. Back-to-back treys from Mick Pennisi finally gave Barako the lead, 31-29, before Casio and Calvin Abueva conspired to knot it up, 34-all. After another Casio long bomb, Gabby Espinas and Sonny Thoss strung together four more, enough to give Alaska a three-point lead at the half, 41-38.


A 7-0 run by the Aces created a double-digit lead to start the third. Barako struggled to lock down the interior, but made up for it by scoring 10 of their own, eight coming from Buenafe. A pair of pullups jumpers from Mark Isip pushed Barako ahead, before Abueva and Carlo Lastimosa exchanged baskets to end the quarter with Barako slightly ahead, 63-62.

Alaska started the final period on a sour note as Abueva fouled out, but the tandem of Casio and Baguio carried them through a 9-2 run. Carlo Lastimosa tried to keep Barako in it, but more baskets from Espinas and Tony Dela Cruz made it a double-digit game anew, 81-70. An Espinas and-one, followed by another Jazul triple put the game out of reach.

Jvee Casio led all scorers with 24 points, hitting 4-of-7 three-pointers, 9-of-14 overall from the field. He also added five rebounds, seven assists and a steal. Forward Gabby Espinas just missed a double-double with 21 points and nine rebounds, RJ Jazul scattered 11 markers, and Calvin Abueva and Cyrus Baguio contributed nine and eight points, respectively.

Ronjay Buenafe broke a protracted slump to lead his team with 14 points, two boards, two assists and three steals. Rookie Carlo Lastimosa scored 11 points in 12 minutes, while Dennis Miranda scored just two points, but handed out seven extra passes.

Alaska shot 48.6 percent from the field, while holding Barako to just a 39.1 percent clip. They were +4 in assists, 19 to 15, and got a 23-17 edge in turnover points despite having one more miscue. - AMD, GMA News


The scores:

Alaska 89 - Casio 24, Espinas 21, Jazul 11, Abueva 9, Baguio 8, Thoss 6, Eman 6, Dela Cruz 4, Hontiveros 0, Avenido 0, Ramos 0, Buenafe 0

Barako Bull 80 - Buenafe 14, Lastimosa 11, Pena 8, Macapagal 7, Miller 7, Jensen 6, Wilson 6, Isip 6, Pennisi 6, Intal 5, Maierhofer 2, Miranda 2, Marcelo 0, Labagala 0

Quarter scoring: 22-17, 41-38, 62-63, 89-80