PBA: Alaska outlasts Barako Bull Energy Cola

(Updated 8:07pm) The Alaska Aces shook off an awful first half and put away Barako Bull Energy Cola, 78-71, in the 2014 PBA Commissioner's Cup, Wednesday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

The Aces (4-3) are heating up after winning three straight games and moved over the .500 mark. Barako Bull (2-5) on the other hand has now lost four of its last five games to fall to solo ninth place.

Rob Dozier had 18 points and 15 rebounds. Gabby Espinas scored 14 points, while Jvee Casio tallied 10 points and five assists.

Coach Luigi Trillo credited his players for a good defensive performance during a grind-it-out, low-scoring game. "They're averaging 91 points, we gave them 71 points. I'm just proud of Gabby and Calvin [Abueva]," he said, who took turns guarding Josh Dollard. "Kinuha talaga nila sa tiyaga."

He said Barako Bull also did a number on them in the first half, but was glad they were firmer on that end of the floor. "In the first half we did really well with [containing Josh] Dollard, but they did really well with us too in the first half. It could've gone either way as well," Trillo pointed out.

In fact, the Energy averaged close to 98 points before tonight, second-best in the league. In their previous game, Trillo said they limited the league's best offense of the San Miguel Beermen to 78 points, nearly 30 points less than their 105-point average coming into that match.

"This is our game, it's ugly. We have a physical, half-court defense kind of game," conceded Trillo.

A few quick buckets from Josh Dollard gave Barako Bull a seven-point lead to start the game, but the Energy couldn't get more offense besides that. Alaska enjoyed a brief stretch of good floor spacing, but neither team could create and finish with any consistency. At the end of the first, Barako Bull led on a last-second jumper from Mark Isip, 17-13.

The second quarter was another 12 minutes of uninspired play on both sides. However, some late activity from Calvin Abueva in the lane made it interesting in the last couple of minutes, which did just enough to offset a few jumpers from Willie Miller, 30-23.
 

The Aces snapped out of their funk after halftime. Sparked by tight defense and a couple of treys from Dondon Hontiveros, Jvee Casio steered Alaska to a 19-8 rally, 45-38. But the Energy didn't trail too far, as Mick Pennisi hit a trey to end a five-minute drought at the 3:13 mark, and Carlo Lastimosa added another to end the third behind by just three, 53-50.

Abueva set the tone for Alaska in the fourth, making plays while flustering Dollard as the Aces climbed to a 62-55 lead midway through the frame. But Dollard forced Rob Dozier to the bench after drawing his fifth foul, allowing the Energy to expand their game beneath the hoop.

Dollard scored eight of Barako's next 12 points to make it a three-point game with a minute left, 70-67, but a daring layup by Casio gave Alaska some breathing room. The Energy botched their next possession, then intentionally fouled RJ Jazul with 38 seconds left, with Jazul canning the two free throws. The Aces still had a scare though when Abueva fouled Pennisi on a three-point try, but the big man made just two of three, 74-69.

Alaska shot 28-of-73 (38.4 percent) from the field, while Barako Bull went 25-of-70 (35.7 percent). The Aces though took better care of the ball, forcing 18 turnovers while committing just eight to produce a 17-10 lead in turnover points.

Josh Dollard scored 26 points, and added 16 rebounds and four assists for the Energy, while Mick Pennisi was their only local in double-digit, compiling with 12 points and six rebounds. - AMD, GMA News



The scores:

ALASKA 78 - Dozier 18, Espinas 14, Casio 10, Abueva 9, Hontiveros 8, Jazul 6, Thoss 6, Manuel 4, Baguio 3, Reyes 0, Dela Cruz 0

BARAKO 71 - Dollard 26, Pennisi 12, Miller 7, Isip 6, Miranda 6, Lastimosa 5, Fortuna 2, Buenafe 2, Pena 2, Wilson 1, Marcelo 0

Quarter scoring: 13-17, 26-30, 53-50, 78-71