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[av_heading heading=’Alaska routs Phoenix in PH Cup’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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February 2, 2018
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MANILA – Alaska Aces continued its perfect run in PBA Philippine Cup with a 93-75 victory over Phoenix Fuel Masters at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Chris Banchero led with 22 points while Calvin Abueva returned from a one-game absence with double-double 21 points and 15 rebounds for Aces (5-2) to tally its fifth straight win Wednesday night.
From a close exchange early in the first quarter, Aces turned to Abueva and Vic Manuel to charge from a slim 11-8 to a 23-10 spread. Phoenix countered with a couple of hits to trim the deficit late in the period.
Aces pulled away in the second 34-14 with hits from Simon Enciso and Abel Gallinguez. Fuel Masters tried to get close but Aces leaned on Abueva and Banchero to build a 48-24 halftime lead.
Alaska continued its torrid shooting in the third to build its largest lead 53-28 on a triple by Carl Bryan Cruz. Consecutive points from Matthew Wright allowed Phoenix to come close 50-68 heading into the fourth.
Fuel Masters pulled even closer 54-68 but Aces came up with a finishing run behind Banchero, Abueva and Negrense Siverino Baclao to widen the lead 84-59 with over five minutes left.
“Our defense in the first half had a lot of teeth. After that, we just tried to maintain it,” said Aces head coach Alex Compton.
Wright top-scored with 16 points while Negrense Jeffrei Chan and rookie Jason Perkins added 14 and 12, respectively, for Fuel Masters (3-4)./PN
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