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Saturday, April 05, 2003
Alaska, Red Bull nip foes in close games
By Patrick C. Costelo
ALASKA got a boost from rookie Brandon Cablay when the high-leaping guard posted 10 points in the third quarter as the Aces avenged their first meeting loss to the unyielding FedEx, 95-93, in the electrifying opener of yesterday’s Samsung-PBA All-Filipino Cup at the Philsports Arena.
The second game was just as close. Lordy Tugade put in a follow-up shot and made one of two free throws as Red Bull out-hustled San Miguel, 89-87. Tugade had 19 points on 6-of-11 field-goal shooting and 3 rebounds to be named Best Player of the Game.
After unhitching their warheads in the first canto, FedEx nabbed a 47-44 lead at halftime but Alaska’s searing frontcourt was just warming up as rookie sensation Mike Cortez and Cablay shifted to high gear.
Coach Dindo Pumaren’s guards were in big trouble in transition as Cortez’s playmaking earned the Aces some easy points capped by an alley-oop play, which Cablay, who finished with 12 points, 5 boards and 1 steal, gladly finished with awesome leaping ability.
When Alaska rolled with a 7-0 run at the start of the second half, FedEx was forced to regroup as Alaska took the lead at 53-47. The Express Team, however, soon caught up as Egay Biliones stepped up to log a career-high 21 points.
Ali Peek, who logged a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds, pounded FedEx’ big men in the paint as he made four points in another Alaska run towards the end of the third, which saw the Aces come out with a 70-63 edge.
But FedEx, relentless as they were, found the sweet-shooting Ren-Ren Ritualo, who delivered six of their last eight third-quarter points to make up for Vergel Meneses’ offensive struggle and take his squad within three points, 74-71, before heading into the final 12 minutes.
Meneses, meanwhile, had a nightmare of a night shooting only 1-of-11 the entire game while the Aces’ John Arigo had an off night as well as he finished with stingy six points.
Alaska again tried to rally past FedEx after extending the lead to 82-73 with seven minutes in the game only to get an 8-0 response from FedEx as the game sizzled at 88-86, in Alaska’s favor after Cortez drained two from the stripe.
(April 5, 2003 issue)
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