Report on KFC-PBA Philippine Cup elimination round game played on Oct. 16, 2008.
Veteran Jeffrey Cariaso bailed the Alaska Aces out of trouble as he scored his team’s last five points to ward off the advancing Red Bull Barakos, 89-83, Thursday night in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup.
On his 14th year in the PBA, Cariaso drilled the crucial baskets during the final two minutes of the game to power the Aces to their third straight win and solo leadership of the conference.
Red Bull suffered its third defeat in as many games to join the Air21 Express at the bottom of the standings.
Down by 18 points, 53-71, late in the third quarter, the Barakos roared back to life to threaten at 84-81. But just as they were about to pull the rug from under the Aces, a technical foul was called on Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao for excessive complaining.
Cariaso sank the technical free throw, then scored on a lay up to pad Alaska’s lead to six, 87-81.
Red Bull threatened once again at 87-83 after Gabby Espinas sank two free throws. But Cariaso and Larry Fonacier split their foul shots to ensure Alaska’s victory.
Before Cariaso’s heroics, it was Willie Miller who shone brightest for the Aces, knocking in a team-high 13 points.
Rookie Larry Rodriguez led the Barakos in scoring, knocking in a game-high and career-high 19 points. His last basket with 4:42 left pushed Red Bull to within a point, 80-79.
Meanwhile, the San Miguel Beermen seek their straight win Friday against the equally power-packed Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters. Both San Miguel and Talk ‘N Text had a 2-1 win-loss slate.
The Coca-Cola Tigers (1-2) collide with the winless Air21 Express in the curtain-raiser of the doubleheader to be played at the Araneta Coliseum.
In their last game against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters last Wednesday, the Beermen nearly squandered a 19-point lead before Lordy Tugade hit back-to-back triples to preserve San Miguel’s 89-82 win.
In their first game in the conference, San Miguel lost to Alaska by a whisker, 84-85, after leading by as many as 19 points as well.
The team’s weakness in sustaining its power is not lost on coach Siot Tanquingcen. “We’ve got to have that killer’s instinct. We tend to be complacent,” he said.
Against Talk ‘N Text, San Miguel will have to stop the Tropang Texters’ running game. Talk ‘N Text is seeking redemption after suffering a humiliating 117-96 loss against the defending champion Sta. Lucia last Oct. 12.
Meanwhile, Air21 is seeking to nail its first victory against a team that had just snapped its own losing spell. Coca-Cola scored its first win Wednesday, nipping Purefoods, 103-102, after two overtime periods.
