It wasn’t just the usual names such as Vic Manuel, Diamon Simpson, and Jvee Casio that lifted the Alaska Aces to a sweep-avoiding victory over the dreaded San Miguel Beermen on Friday night.
It was the bench, too.
The Aces received solid contributions from their reserves, and that played a major role in their 125-104 romping of the Beermen in Game Three of their 2018 Commissioner’s Cup semifinals at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
And those who served as the leaders of the second stringers were Jake Pascual and Abel Galliguez.
Pascual and Galliguez proved to be the game-changers in the second frame, giving the Milkmen their first taste of a double-digit lead at 45-35 with 7:19 – a lead which they would never relinquish.
Both cagers finished with seven markers on a combined 6-of-11 from the floor. All in all, the Aces’ bench contributed a 71 points in the victory – way beyond the 32-point production of the defending champions’ bench.
“That’s the thing you work for,” said Galliguez. “No one counts the hours and shots that you put in the gym everyday.
“When it comes to the moment, your name and number is called up, and those shots fall, that’s a great feeling to feel it.”
“Sabi ko baka naswertehan lang namin,” quipped Pascual, whom the Aces acquired in a trade last season. “Pero sa practice ginagawa na namin yun eh.
“Kumbaga nasanay na lang din sa practice.”
Aside from Galliguez and Pascual, bench players such as Carl Cruz and Ping Exciminiano also contributed nicely on both ends of the floor. Given the well-roundedness that the Aces displayed, Galliguez is confident in his team.
“I think with any group that coach Alex [Compton] goes with, we can get the job done,” said the 5-foot-8 Galliguez. “We will just trust the process and trust what coach Alex has been doing and trust with the results.”
Still, the US-raised point guard knows that they can’t get too caught up with Friday night’s win, since he and the Milkmen are fully aware that extending the series for just another game isn’t much of an achievement.
“But at the same time, looking forward, its just one game. It’s a best-of-five series. We’ve got to look forward and keep the momentum,” he said. “San Miguel is a great, talented team. They play with a lot of heart.
“They are cerebral and very talented.”
