PBA: Alaska makes late defensive stand, locks down GlobalPort

The Alaska Aces bounced back from an opening day loss, sinking GlobalPort Batang Pier with a defensive clinic in the fourth, 93-77, in the 2014 PBA Philippine Cup, Saturday at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Rob Dozier, who starred in the Aces' 28-10 shutdown in the final frame, headlined the team with 25 points, 15 rebounds and four assists.

The defending Commissioner's Cup champions got their first win of the tourney, while GlobalPort remained without a victory after two outings.
 

GlobalPort led initially, 9-3, with import Evan Brock getting his way in the paint. But the Aces adjusted quickly, creating turnovers for transition chances on the other end. Alaska held the Batang Pier to only two field goals in the last seven minutes, while RJ Jazul dropped back-to-back treys to punctuate his side's effort in the quarter. After the first, the Aces leap-frogged ahead, 23-15.

 

The three-pointers kept coming in the second quarter, as Cyrus Baguio and Dondon Hontiveros converted to make it a 31-21 game. GlobalPort though, replied with an Alex Cabagnot and-one and a Mark Yee triple to stem the tide. The Batang Pier let Alaska lead by 11 before slowly adjusting to the Aces’ spacing and assertiveness in the paint.

GlobalPort made a go at it with under five minutes left, and seemed to run layup lines to close the quarter. Getting contributions from Terrence Romeo and Cabagnot, they ended the quarter on a 12-4 run to only trail 42-39 at halftime.

 

Jay Washington went on a tear in the third and scored 11 straight points, including two three-pointers. The Aces had been relying on Rob Dozier to score, leading 53-51, but their lack of depth began to show midway through the frame. Justin Chua and Brock scored consecutive and-ones, while Mark Macapagal’s outside touch offset JVee Casio’s heroics down the stretch. At the end of three quarters, Batang Pier led 67-65.

 

Alaska showed the form expected of defending champions in the fourth, and dominated the Batang Pier for a good nine minutes. While GlobalPort mishandled the ball, Dozier did as he wished in the paint and dropped 11 points in a 15-1 run to shut out Batang Pier, 80-68.

 

A Romeo trey with under three minutes left gave GlobalPort their first field goal of the frame, but the Batang Pier would not recover. Gabby Espinas replied with two straight buckets, then Jazul split charities to extinguish any hopes of a comeback with a minute and change left, 85-71.

Alaska locals RJ Jazul and Gabby Espinas scored 18 apiece and combined for eight boards. Jazul was a scorching-hot 5-of-6 from long-range, while also dishing out three assists. Jvee Casio notched 11 markers, while Calvin Abueva had just two points on 1-of-5 shooting.

Evan Brock led the GlobalPort attack with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Jay Washington scored 14 points and hauled in seven rebounds, while the backcourt attack of Alex Cabagnot and Terrence Romeo brought in 23 points and two triples. Cabagnot also dished out nine dimes.

The Aces were a hot 9-of-19 from downtown, versus 8-of-22 for the Batang Pier. Alaska also had more assists, 23-to-17. - RAF/AMD, GMA News

The scores: