PBA: Harris, Banchero lift Alaska past Meralco

The Alaska Aces relied on a strong third quarter to defeat the Meralco Bolts, 80-72, on Friday at the MOA Arena in the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup.

Mike Harris led Alaska with 23 points and 15 rebounds, while Chris Banchero was crucial in keeping the Bolts at bay in the fourth.

Banchero finished the game with 13 points, six rebounds, five assists, and two steals, including one in the dying seconds that led to a Harris triple that put the game away.

The Aces dug themselves out of a seven-point halftime hole, uncorking a 26-8 blast in the third to earn a double-digit advantage, 49-48, with 42 seconds to go.

Come the fourth, Chris Banchero padded his team’s lead late in the game, but Allen Durham and Baser Amer tried to mount a late comeback that cut the lead to just five, 75-70, with 1:30 remaining.

Mike Harris, however, connected on a pull up triple with 23 seconds left, allowing Alaska to earn the victory.

Allen Durham paced Meralco with 21 points, while Chris Newsmen and Baser Amer combined for 27 as starters. —R. Fopalan/LBG, GMA News