Apparently, getting Simon Enciso heated isn’t good news for the opposing team.
The Alaska Aces gunslinger went unconscious late in Game Three of their 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup semifinal series versus the Meralco Bolts on Thursday evening, as he knocked down big shot after big shot.
Though super import Mike Harris took over late, scoring the Aces’ last nine points, there’s no denying the impact Enciso made with his outside sniping, and that led to a thrilling 104-102 victory.
Thursday’s win means the Aces have a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series. A win in Game Four this coming Saturday will bring Alaska to their first Finals appearance since the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup championship.
Enciso had 17 points – 11 in the fourth quarter alone – built on four triples. And for him, the fire within was lit up “a little bit” late in the second frame.
Enciso had a spat with the Bolts’ budding star Baser Amer with around three minutes left prior to the halftime break, after which they had to be separated by their teammates. Both Enciso and Baser were called for technical fouls.
“Yeah, a little bit,” said Enciso. “It’s all in the game. Emotions run high. You know you’re playing and things get physical. He’s a player, I’m a player, I don’t take it personal. If he wants to take it personal then that’s fine with him.
“But I think it’s just part of the game,” the 5-foot-11 Fil-American added.
“I’m not gonna step down, I know he’s not gonna step down. We’re both good players.”
Amer left the Cuneta Astrodome immediately after the match, and therefore wasn’t available for comment.
As for his impeccable shooting down the stretch – which saw him score all of the Bolts’ 9-3 rally that gave them a slim 95-92 lead with 1:52 left to play – Enciso insisted that he wasn’t the only one who delivered greatly, but the whole team.
“Man, you know, big shots, they’re just shots. The good thing is we got the victory, and everybody played well, everybody’s healthy still,” said the 27-year-old. “My teammates are also huge factors. We only do so much.
“It’s a team sport. Everybody chips in and does their job. When we do that, you see the result, we get a victory. But [then, we still got] one more game. Can’t be happy.”
