Alaska defense holds Rain or Shine to just 48 points in huge win

The Alaska Aces locked down erstwhile leaders Rain or Shine, 74-48, to pick up a huge win in the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup Wednesday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Rain or Shine (now at 3-1) had won three consecutive games to start the conference, but could not get anything going on offense against Alaska (2-2).

The Elasto Painters shot 18-for-86 (20-percent) from the field and 6-for-35 (17-percent) from three-point range. They even struggled from the free throw line, where they could only shoot 6-for-11 (56-percent).

Alaska barely allowed them to break double figures in each of the first two quarters, where Rain or Shine scored only 12 points and 11 points, respectively.

The Aces took advantage of that by building up a comfortable lead of 18 points, 41-23, at the break.

The Aces scored 20 points in the third quarter, including two triples from Rodney Brondial and Abu Tratter, as they solidified their hold of the lead, 61-39.

In the fourth, the stingy Alaska defense only allowed nine points in total for Rain or Shine while putting up 13 on their end of the floor.

Barkley Ebona and Jaycee Marcelino combined to score five quick points near the end to give the Aces their biggest lead of the game at 29 points, 74-45.

Brondial led Alaska in scoring with 13 points to go with six rebounds while Tratter put up an all-around performance of 12 markers, 13 boards, and one assist.

Maverick Ahanmisi added 10 points and Mike Digregorio chipped in with nine for the Aces.

No one on the Elasto Painters scored in double figures, with Adrian Wong leading the way with only nine points.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News