Alaska Aces Back in the Finals

Playoff top seed Alaska Milk simply outclassed Final Four neophyte Globalport yet again Tuesday night, hacking out a 118-89 (Alaska VS Globalport Game 5) win to secure the first berth in the Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

With hardly any difference from the previous games, the Aces overwhelmed the Batang Pier on both ends and thus completed an easy 4-1 romp in the best-of-seven semifinals series.

Booking a third finals appearance in the last four conferences, the Aces take a shot at the coveted crown either versus the San Miguel Beermen or the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

It could be a repeat of the all-Filipino finals last year or a first-ever championship showdown between the Aces and the Elasto Painters.

With their choking defense, good transition plays and fluid half-court set, the Aces set the pace all throughout in nailing a 29th finals in franchise history.

The Aces pursue a first all-Filipino plum since 2000 and a first crown in any conference since their title run in the 2013 Commissioner’s Cup under coach Luigi Trillo.

The second winningest franchise in the league, Alaska stamped its class on Globalport, pounding the Batang Pier in the next four games after a surprised 93-107 loss in Game One.

The Aces bounced back in Game Two, 100-76, and went on a roll with equally convincing 82-69 triumph in Game Three and 109-84 in Game Four.

They spread their production to gobble up the bulk of the Globalport production coming from Terrence Romeo, Jay Washington and Stanley Pringle.

The scores:

ALASKA 118 – Exciminiano 18, Banchero 18, Abueva 14, Thoss 14, Baguio 10, Manuel 10, Jazul 9, Menk 9, Hontiveros 6, Casio 5, Dela Cruz 2, Eman 2, Baclao 0, Dela Rosa 0.

GLOBALPORT 89 – Washington 26, Romeo 20, Pringle 15, Sumang 9, Isip 6, Yeo 6, Jensen 3, Kramer 2, Maierhofer 2, Pena 0, Semerad 0.

Quarters: 27-17, 60-51, 87-73, 118-89

Source : PBA