ALASKA Milk staved off repeated rallies by hard-fighting but undermanned NorthPort, 102-94, to boost its chances in the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup at the Angeles University Foundation (AUF) Sports Center in Pampanga.
Still smarting from an 81-87 setback to Barangay Ginebra last Tuesday, the Aces needed a strong finish to overcome the Batang Pier and the career 39-point effort of Christian Standhardinger.
Six players, led by Rodney Brondial and Abu Tratter, scoerd in double figurs for the Aces, who improved to 6-4 behind only Ginebra, Talk N Text and Phoenix in the race for the Top Four seats.
Brondial finished with a double double of 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Tratter also had 16 points and Jeron Teng had 14 points for Alaska, which sloses its elimination round schedule against NLEX on Monday.
“It’s been a tough 10 games and it’s going to even tougher game next Monday to end the eliminations,” said Alaska coach Jeff Cariaso.
“It’s been a roller-coaster ride.”
Standhardinger had 39 points on 15-of-24 shooting,16 rebounds and five assists in nearly 40 minutes.
Standharding surpassed his previous career-best of 37 points, which he also scored against Alaska in a 106-99 loss in last year’s PBA Governors Cup
Kelly Nabong added 11 points and nine rebounds for the Batang Pier, which fell to 1-7 with a line-up missing top players Sean Anthony and Jonathan Grey.
In other games, NLEX toppled defending champion San Miguel Beer, 124-90, and Terrafirma shocked Blackwater, 110-101, to keep their slim hopes alive.
Michael Miranda, Kevin Alas, JR Quinahan, Kiefer Ravena, Jericho Cruz and Anthony Semered joined hands as the Road Warriors dominated the Beermen on the way to theur third straight win and a 4-5 win-loss card.
San Miguel dropped to 5-4.
CJ Perez and Juami Tiongson provided the timely baskets for the Dyip,who overcame another third-quarter collapse to escape with their first win in eight games in the bubble.
Perez, who led the Dyip with 27 points, and Tiongson scored nine points each in a decisive stretch in the fourth quarter.
The scores:
First game
Terrafirma (110) — Perez 27, Adams 20, Tiongson 19, Calvo 11, Camson 11, Faundo 7, Ramos 5, Khobuntin 4, Celda 4, Cahilig 2, Agovida 0, Baligasay 0.
Blackwater (101) — Canaleta 29, Trollano 16, Sumang 15, Daquioag 12, Belo 10, Magat 8, Golla 4, Dennison 4, Tolomia 3, Dario 0, Escoto 0, Gabriel 0.
Quarterscores: 27-20, 54-45, 80-81, 110-101.
Second game
Alaska (102) — Tratter 16, Brondial 16, Teng 14, Herndon 13, Manuel 11, Ahanmisi 11, Casio 6, Ebona 6, DiGregorio 6, Galliguez 3, Publico 0, Ayaay 0.
NorthPort (94) — Standhardinger 39, Lanete 11, Nabong 11, Taha 10, Elore 9, Ferrer 8, Subido 3, Cruz 3, Revilla 0, Guinto 0, Manganti 0.
Quarterscores: 27-18; 45-40; 69-65; 102-94.
Third game
NLEX (124) – Miranda 22, Alas 19, Quinahan 14, Ravena 14, Cruz 11, Semerad 10, Porter 9, Soyud 6, Ighalo 6, McAloney 5, Galanza 4, Paniamogan 2, Taulava 2, Ayonayon 0.
San Miguel (90) – Zamar 23, Pessumal 11, Tautuaa 10, Cabagnot 9, Ross 9, Santos 8, Comboy 8, Alolino 7, Mamaril 4, Gamalinda 1,De Guzman 0, Escoto 0.
Quarterscores: 36-25 ; 67-47 ; 91-65 ; 124-90.
