With the ball game tied at 38 during the halftime, the Alaska Aces opened the floodgates and left the Meralco Bolts on a losing end of a furious second half performance to take Game Three of the series, 92-72, held at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum Friday evening.
Meralco dictated the game’s pace early on, as they led by as much as ten during the first half. However, the Aces built an 8-0 run in the middle of the second quarter to keep in step against Meralco’s early blitz. Despite the Bolts seemingly grasping tempo in the first half, Alaska managed to gather a 7-0 run in the latter stretch of the first half to take the lead, just before Meralco’s Onuaku equalizing the game at intermission
The second half belonged entirely to the Alaska Aces, who opened up the new half with six unanswered points. Cliff Hodge drained a couple of three-balls but Rob Dozier, Calvin Abueva and the rest of the Aces answered bigtime during the third quarter. A 16-5 surge by the Aces blew the game wide open and pretty much sealed the game that early. In addition, their swarming defense limited the Bolts’ reinforcement of good looks at the rim.
The Aces made sure that there would be no comeback, as they continued to outscore the Bolts, 26-18 in the final frame. They led by as much as 20, and never looked back in the one-sided affair.
Rob Dozier finished with 25 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks for the Aces. Calvin Abueva tallied 23 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block in a complete all-around performance.
After the match, ‘The Beast’ opened up his motivation on what he thought was a team collapse back in Game 2. “Last game kasi 39 minutes okay kami, pero nag-relax kami mga last minute,” Abueva lamented. “‘Di nakapag-execute kaya natalo kami. Ngayong Game 3, mas dinagdagan ko motivation ko, patience at aggressiveness.”
“Di na namin sila pagbibigayan at tatapusin na namin.”
Meanwhile, Coach Alex Compton was also all praises on his energy guy in saying, “that’s what he does. Si Calvin just stirs our offense.”
“He was all around. He said ‘nahihilo siya’ (after being hit by Cliff Hodge in a play) pero alam mo naman yun, may pagka-Wolverine.”
“We’ll never change the way we play. I don’t ever really believe that you’ll be successful from straining yourself from who you are. We are a pressing defensive team who likes to pass the basketball,” he added.
For Meralco, all starters except for Chris Newsome finished in double figures led by 16 points from Arinze Onuaku.
However, the team was forced 21 miscues and shot a subpar 35% from the floor. Alaska, on the other hand, grabbed more boards, 56-46 and had 14 more points in the paint (38-24).
Alaska looks to closeout the series on Monday, 7:00pm in the same venue.
The Scores:
Alaska (92) – Dozier 25, Abueva 23, Banchero 16, Menk 6, Baclao 4, Baguio 4, Exciminiano 4, Jazul 4, Hontiveros 2, Thoss 2, Dela Rosa 1, Racal 1, Dela Cruz 0, Eman 0.
Meralco (72) – Onuaku 16, Alapag 12, Hodge 12, Hugnatan 12, Dillinger 9, Buenafe Ro. 5, Caram 4, Faundo 2, Amer 0, Bono 0, Buenafe Ry. 0, Ferriols 0, Guevarra 0, Newsome 0.
Quarterscores: 15-20, 38-38, 66-54, 92-72.
