Alaska team owner Wilfred Steven Uytengsu is turning 49 on Monday. His Aces made sure they
wouldn’t spoil the party.
Cyrus Baguio scored 19 points to lead a balance offensive by Alaska and the Aces held off a late
charge by Barako Bull for an 87-76 victory Sunday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Aces bounced back from a 68-79 loss against Barangay Ginebra a week ago to improve to a 5-5
[win-loss] record and move into a tie with rampaging B-Meg Derby Ace at fourth and fifth spots.
During the post-game interview, Alaska coach Tim Cone said he wasn’t satisfied with their effort.
“I’m just not happy with the way we played in the fourth. The fourth quarter just seems to be
our Waterloo. So it’s back for us in the drawing board,” Cone said.
When told that Uytengsu’s upcoming birthday was perhaps the reason the players desperately went
for the win, Cone quickly replied in jest: “We no longer announce [Wilfred’s birthday] because
everytime we do that we always lose. So Joaqui (Trillo, team manager) and I learned over the last
decade not to do that anymore. And we have succeeded.”
Joe Devance accounted for 16 points and Sonny Thoss added 13 as Alaska’s starters outscored their
Barako counterparts, 57-24.
After shooting 7 of 23 in the first quarter, the Aces made 58 percent of their attempts in the
second to take a 43-30 lead at halftime.
The Aces sustained their consistency in the third quarter and appeared headed for a blowout win
when they built a 69-46 advantage on a 3-pointer by De Vance with 9:31 remaining.
With a comfortable advantage and a seemingly won game, the Aces loosened up a bit defensively,
allowing the Energy Boosters to slowly comeback as Reed Juntilla warmed up.
Juntilla scored 12 of his team-high 16 points in the fourth quarter, including three free throws
that pulled Barako Bull to within 67-75 that made the game exciting with 4:10 to play.
“Red Bull is a well-coached team. They ran a gauntlet against teams like Ginebra, Talk 'N Text
and San Miguel but they never quit in any of those games,” said Cone in praise of Red Bull coach
Junel Baculi and his wards.
“This is a tough week for us. Hopefully, this win will set the tone for this week, We’ll see if
we can follow this up,” added the Alaska coach.
The Aces face the B-Meg Derby Llamados on Wednesday then battle Rain or Shine on Sunday.
Baguio, who also had two assists, two steals and two blocks, knocked in his second three of the
night to seal the game for Alaska, 82-71, with 1:38 left.
It was the fifth consecutive loss and eighth in 10 games overall for the Energy Boosters, who
absorbed their second loss against Alaska and took another step closer to the early exit door for a
possible fifth straight conference.
Dennis Daa and Mark Isip, who came off the bench, scored 13 apiece, Sunday Salvacion added 11 and
Chad Alonzo had 10 for Barako Bull, which gave up 17 points on 18 turnovers. (DBC)
The scores:
Alaska 87 - Baguio 19, De Vance 16, Thoss 13, Hugnatan 10, Custodio 9,
Dela Cruz 9, Tenorio 7, Borbora 2, Eman 2, Espiritu 0.
Barako Bull 76 - Juntilla 16, Daa 13, Isip 13, Salvacion 11, Alonzo
10, Wainwright 7, Hubalde 4, Cruz 2, Hermida 0, Duncil 0, Bono 0,
Andaya 0, Dimaunahan 0, Yee 0.
Quarterscores: 16-11, 43-30, 62-44, 87-76
