Alaska survives scare from Barako Bull, keeps PBA lead

For a while, the bitter memory of its stunning loss to Rain or Shine was staring Alaska in the closing minutes of its KFC- Cup game PBA Philippine Cup game against lowly Barako Bull Sunday at the Ynares Arena in Pasig.

But no way L.A. Tenorio and Sonny Thoss would allow that to happen again. The two scored four straight points inside the final two minutes, enough to quell a fierce Energy Boosters’ rally in a 99-88 Alaska win that kept the Aces on top of the season-opening tournament. Thoss’ close range basket and Tenorio’s two free throws finally cut short Barako Bull’s fiery 20-3 windup that allowed the Energy Boosters to close to within 88-93 just as the game entered its final two minute mark. Before that big run, Barako Bull trailed, 90-68, with 10 minutes left in the game following a Willie Miller basket. Tenorio finished with 16 points on another big night for the former Ateneo Blue Eagle stalwart, just a point shy of top scorer Reynel Hugnatan, who had 17 markers and 10 rebounds. Thoss added 14 while Miller also had a double-double of 10 points and 11 assists. Best start since '98 The Aces are now 9-1 overall and in solo first place. This marks the best start of the franchise in the last 11 years since opening the 1998 Commissioner’s Cup with an 8-1 card. Alaska’s only loss came at the expense of Rain or Shine, 81-86. Barako Bull, a 99-83 loser to Alaska in the first round, fell to 2-8. Yousif Aljamal led the Energy Drinkers’ losing cause with 21 points, the last of which made it a 99-83 contest. Chad Alonzo came through with 12 markers, and so did Aries Dimaunahan. But Dimaunahan also did the Energy Drinkers in, missing two crucial free throws and a corner three-pointer that could have sustained Barako Bull’s big endgame comeback. - GMANews.TV