Olu Ashaolu posts double-double as Alaska spoils Arwind Santos' NorthPort debut

Returning import Olu Ashaolu posted an impressive double-double output as the Alaska Aces squeaked past NorthPort Batang Pier, 87-85, to open their campaign in the 2021 PBA Governors' Cup on Wednesday.

The Nigerian-Canadian forward carried the load for the Aces with 20 points, 14 rebounds, three steals, and an assist in more than 40 minutes of action while Jeron Teng chipped in 19 markers and three dimes.

Alaska's win spoiled the much-awaited NorthPort debut of Arwind Santos, who was recently traded by San Miguel Beer in exchange for Vic Manuel.

Santos provided the spark off the bench for Batang Pier, registering 23 points seven boards, and four blocks. Import Cameron Forte finished with double-double of 18 points and 15 rebounds.

Ashaolu quickly fired 11 points at halftime as Aces took a slim 41-39 lead heading into the two final periods. The 33-year-old slotman, however, went silent in the third frame but teammates Robert Herndon, Maverick Ahanmisi, and Teng joined forces as they stretched their lead to eight at the end of third, 68-60.

Ashaolu, who had two tours of duty with NLEX in 2018 and 2019, came alive in the fourth period and scored six of Alaska's 11-straight points to open the quarter, 79-69.

Batang Pier kept fighting and threatened to steal the game after briefly taking the lead, 85-84, after a Greg Slaughter putback with only 39 ticks left on the clock.

Herndon responded with a fadeaway shot over Santos followed by a split from the charity stripes by Teng to regain the lead for the Aces. NorthPort could not execute in clutch and ran out of time, ceding the win to Alaska.

Alaska will next face Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings on Sunday, December 12, at 6:45 p.m. while NorthPort's next assignment will be the NLEX Road Warriors on Friday.

—MGP, GMA News