Thursday, July 19, 2007 Second quarter record run lifts Alaska to 121-110 win in Game 6
ALASKA prevented the Talk ’N Text balloons from falling into the court yesterday after the Aces nailed an equalizer over the Phone Pals, 121-110, in Game 6 of their 2007 PBA Fiesta Conference finals series at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Aces’ victory tied the best-of-seven affair at 3-all and forged a winner-take-all game this Friday at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Balloons were already placed at the roof of the coliseum in anticipation of TNT’s title-clinching Game 6 win.
However, the balloons stayed there as the boys of Alaska coach Tim Cone used a humongous second-quarter blitzkrieg to overcome a 14-point deficit in the first canto and totally ruled the Phone Pals in the final half to secure the victory.
Spectacular
Newly-crowned MVP Willie Miller played yet another spectacular performance for the Aces after scoring just six points in Game 5 as he nailed 37 markers on top of four assists to lead all scorers of Alaska.
The Phone Pals hungrily started the game with the crown in their minds as they raced on to a 34-22 edge at the end of the opening canto.
But the fire suddenly went out for the Phone Pals in the second phase as the Aces unloaded the second longest rally in the history of the PBA finals series after etching a 22-0 blast to overtake the Phone Pals, 44-34, in the 4:56-mark of the period.
The Aces stretched their lead to 56-45 at the bend.
Enough
The blow turned out to be enough to kill the hopes of the Phone Pals as all the latter could muster was to cut Alaska’s lead to eight in the final quarter before the Aces stepped on the gas again to secure the win.
Best Import of the Conference Rossel Ellis contributed 22 points and 16 rebounds for Alaska, while Reynel Hugnatan added 20 points and five rebounds.
Also finishing in double digit score for the Aces are Nick Belasco, who joined the elite list of players who tallied 5,000 points or more in the PBA with his 14, while Mike Cortes had nine markers and seven assists.
Mac Cardona led the losing TNT with 27 points, while JJ Sullinger and Egay Billones added 24 and 21, respectively. (JSV)
