After ending their franchise-worst skid, the Alaska Aces looked determined to pick up the pieces as they notched their second straight victory at the expense of the GlobalPort Batang Pier, 101-88, in the Oppo PBA Governors’ Cup on Friday at Mall of Asia Arena.
The result gave Alaska a two-game winning streak–a welcome development for the Aces who before last Saturday had a 14-game slump that lasted for five months.
LaDontae Henton collected 36 points and 21 rebounds while Calvin Abueva scored all of his 12 points in the fourth quarter to help the Aces (2-6) douse the comeback of GlobalPort which trailed by 13 points early.
Henton waxed hot for 12 points in the first frame to help Alaska build a 23-10 first quarter lead.
GlobalPort rallied in the second quarter and even led by a point, 45-44, before Ping Exciminiano drained a buzzer-beating jumper.
The two teams engaged in a tight battle until Alaska managed to pull away in the fourth frame behind Abueva who led a 12-4 run that gave his team a 88-78 advantage with 3:23 left.
GlobalPort scored five straight points to trim the deficit but a Henton triple and back-to-back baskets by JVee Casio staved off the Batang Pier.
Murphy Holloway led the Batang Pier (3-5) with 25 points and nine boards but couldn’t prevent his team from dropping its second straight game.
Terrence Romeo was limited to only five points. Mac Cardona, just in his second game back after a one-year absence, dropped 12 points on 5-for-6 shooting.
The scores:
ALASKA 101 – Henton 36, Abueva 12, Casio 11, Thoss 10, Baclao 8, Racal 7, Encisio 7, Exciminiano 6, Banchero 2, Pascual 2, Mendoza 0, Cruz 0.
GLOBALPORT 88 – Holloway 25, Anthony 19, Cardona 12, Guinto 10, Cortez 9, Romeo 5, Arana 4, Grey 2, Baracael 2, Celiz 0, Paredes 0.
Quarters: 26-18, 46-45, 67-67, 101-88.