The Alaska Aces blew a 20-point lead, but managed to stay composed amid the Meralco Bolts’ attacks to succeed, 100-95, and tie their 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup semifinal series at a game apiece, Tuesday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Free throws by Jvee Casio and Simom Enciso in the final 7.7 seconds were more than enough to shut the door on Meralco, who knocked within just one with 14 ticks left in the match, after going down 46-66 in the third canto.
“Now we got a best-of-three,” said Alaska head coach Alex Compton. “They really came back. They had a phenomenal run and they showed they don’t give up.”
Mike Harris and Simon Enciso were at the forefront of the Milkmen’s attack. The Best Import award frontrunner poured in 37 points on 61 percent shooting with 19 rebounds, while Enciso made 23 markers on five triples.
The Aces had already had a comfortable 20-point cushion, 66-46, with 4:31 remaining in the third chapter as a result of the 19-6 scoring blitz they executed from a slim 47-40 lead at the start of the second half. But the Bolts turned it up in the final period. When Alaska thought they had the game after a Chris Newsome goaltend gave them a 92-87 lead with 1:33 to go, Meralco rallied and inched within a point, 95-96, after a Newsome trey.
Luckily for the Aces, Casio calmly sank both of his charities with 7.7 seconds left to widen their gap to three. And when the Bolts fouled Enciso after failing to tie the match, the latter also made his own set of freebies to finish the match.
Chris Banchero flirted with a triple-double, as he produced 13 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists.
Allen Durham had 24 points, 12 assists, and nine rebounds in the loss. Nico Salva had 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting, while Baser Amer supplied 14 points. Reynel Hugnatan made 12 and seven boards, and Mike Tolomia had 10 markers.
Game Three is on Thursday, November 15, at the Cuneta Astrodome.
The Scores:
Alaska 100 – Harris 37, Enciso 23, Banchero 13, Manuel 7, Baclao 6, Racal 5, Casio 4, Exciminiano 3, Teng 2, Thoss 0.
Meralco 95 – Durham 24, Salva 20, Amer 14, Hugnatan 12, Tolomia 10, Newsome 6, Caram 4, Canaleta 3, Faundo 2, Dillinger 0, Ballesteros 0.
Quarterscores: 23-21, 47-40, 74-60, 100-95.
