PBA: Alaska eliminates Ginebra, books semis slot

The Alaska Aces completed a huge turnaround in the second half, overwhelming Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 114-108, to advance to the semifinals of the PBA Governors' Cup.

Romeo Travis led Alaska with 29 points and 21 rebounds with six assists and three blocks with just one turnover. Sonny Thoss added 14 markers and 10 boards, while Cyrus Baguio rounded up the starters in double figures with 10. Vic Manuel was stellar off the bench, scoring 14 points with seven boards, while Dondon Hontiveros tallied 13, including three triples.

"I thought our mindset was wrong going into the game," admitted Alaska head coach Alex Compton. "It's difficult playing Ginebra. You get carried away."

Ginebra actually led by 12 near the end of the first half, before Chris Banchero and Romeo Travis trimmed the lead to eight heading into the break. The Aces completed the turnaround in the third, outscoring the Gin Kings 32-22.

Ginebra led by 16 at the 8:12 mark after a pair of Japeth Aguilar charities, but Sonny Thoss and Romeo Travis led the late charge in the third, uncorking a 22-5 run to end the quarter and take a two-point lead, 77-75.

Come the fourth, it was all Alaska, with Travis and Rome Dela Rosa stringing five straight to bump the lead up to 13 with 3:19 left in the game. Ginebra countered to cut the lead to eight anew, but Travis found Vic Manuel deep underneath for an and one, 106-95.

"These are guys who got tremendous character," added Compton. "We were down 16 in the third; these guys fought back again."

Ginebra then played the fouling game, while Orlando Johnson kept on connecting to cut the lead to five with 30 seconds remaining, 108-103. Jayvee Casio and Travis were solid from the line, though, hitting enough freethrows to stave off the Gin Kings.

Ginebra relied heavily on their starters, with Orlando Johnson leading the pack with 28 points and 10 boards. Sol Mercado added 21 points and seven assists, while Greg Slaughter chipped in 19 points and eight boards. Japeth Aguilar and LA Tenorio had 15 and 14 points, respectively, while the Ginebra bench played sparingly, with three other players combining for 11 points. - GMA News


The scores:

ALASKA 114 - Travis 29, Manuel 14, Thoss 14, Hontiveros 13, Baguio 10, Banchero 9, Abueva 8, Casio 7, Dela Rosa 5, Jazul 3, Exciminiano 2, Baclao 0, Menk 0.

GINEBRA 108 - Johnson 28, Mercado 21, Slaughter 19, Aguilar 15, Tenorio 14, Kim 5, Baracael 4, Marcelo 2, Pena 0, Monfort 0, Brondial 0.

Quarters: 27-31, 45-53, 75-77, 114-108