Alaska stuns Meralco behind RK Ilagan's game-winner

Alaska's supporting cast came through in the first of their last three games in the elimination round as they beat Meralco, 94-93, on a game-winner from RK Ilagan in the 2021 PBA Governors' Cup on Saturday in Antipolo City.

Down by one with only 4.7 seconds left in the game, the rookie guard Ilagan took matters into his own hands as he fired the dagger that allowed the Aces to improve to 6-3.

The former NCAA standout finished with 11 points, three rebounds, and one assist to complement import Ola Ashaolu's 21 markers, nine boards, and two dimes.

Despite trades of buckets, the Aces still had the upperhand at the break, 52-47, after getting enough spark from the bench led by Ilagan, Mike Digregorio, Abu Tratter, Kevin Racal, and Yousef Taha.

The quintet accounted for 30 of Alaska's 52-point production at the half as they held off the Bolts to just 47.

But Digregorio's nine points in the first two periods was just a prelude as the 30-year-old guard helped Aces fire a 22-12 run in the third frame highlighted by his three triples, 74-59.

That lead went up by as much as 17, 76-59, but the Bolts trimmed their deficit to just nine behind Allein Maliksi's personal 10-5 run, 81-69.

Maliksi continued waxing hot in the final frame, dropping nine points behind two triples to get his side to within just a point, 82-81. He, however, couldn't continue with his hot-shooting after he fouled out at the 7:31 mark with a season-high 32 points.

With Maliksi out of the picture, the Aces were able to inch to as close as 92-93 after a jumper from Tratter with 34 seconds left in the game.

Ilagan then saved the day for the Aces with the buzzer-beater jumper.

The scores:

Alaska 94 - Ashaolu 21, Digregorio 21, Teng 12, Ilagan 11, Tratter 9, Taha 7, Racal 7, Bulanadi 4, Faundo 2, Stockton 0, Ahanmisi 0.

Meralco 93 - Maliksi 32, Bishop 18, Almazan 12, Newsome 9, Quinto 7, Banchero 6, Black 5, Hodge 4, Caram 0, Hugnatan 0, Baclao 0.

Quarterscores: 23-19, 52-47, 81-69, 94-93.

—JMB, GMA News