Alaska ready for finals

With only a win away from clinching a ticket to the Last Dance, top-seed Alaska will try to formalize its entry by disposing of Barangay Ginebra in Game 4 of their PBA Philippine Cup best-of-7 semifinal series at the Araneta Coliseum tonight.

The Aces are up, 3-0, in the duel. For Ginebra to make it to the finals, the Kings must beat Alaska four games in a row – an improbability for any team except, perhaps, coach Joseph Uichico’s never-say-die squad.

It’s a tall order for Ginebra to overcome a 0-3 deficit. But Uichico isn’t giving up hope. In Game 3 last Sunday, the Kings recovered from 23 points down to creep within two, 90-88, with 37.8 ticks left. Ginebra had a chance to tie it but Ronald Tubid blew two free throws, time down to 9.5 seconds, and the Kings could’ve even won if only Mark Caguioa and Sunday Salvacion hit their triples as the clock expired.

Ginebra’s problem is lack of able-bodied men. Eric Menk suffered a groin injury in Game 1 and didn’t play the last two outings, severely crippling the Kings’ frontline. With Menk out of commission, Alaska center Sonny Thoss has emerged as nearly an unstoppable force to average 15.7 points in the series.

Celino Cruz, a fixture at point guard as Uichico’s stabilizer, went down with a sprained ankle in Game 1, sat out Game 2 and was scoreless in Game 3. Cruz hasn’t scored a point in the Alaska tie – in contrast, he averaged 7.8 points in the quarterfinals, hitting in twin digits in three of five games.


With Jay-Jay Helterbrand not in 100 percent condition and Caguioa still working back into shape, Uichico has found it difficult to match up against Alaska body for body. Tubid hasn’t been as explosive because his focus is defending Willie Miller and J. C. Intal, now a marked man with Tony de la Cruz checking his every move, is feeling the pressure of carrying the load.

Ginebra is deadliest when it’s running and gunning but in the Alaska series, the Kings are hitting only at an 83-point clip. In the quarters, Ginebra averaged 107.2 points in bowling over Talk ‘N’ Text in Games 3 and 5. Against the Aces, Ginebra is scoring only 9.3 fastbreak points a contest. Rebounding is critical in triggering transition. Alaska hasn’t been too obliging in this department – the Aces grabbed more boards, 59-40, in Game 1 and 53-43 in Game 2.

But if it’s any consolation, Uichico will draw inspiration from Ginebra’s scorching 23-2 surge in Game 3 last Sunday. If the Aces hadn’t erected such a huge lead at the start, the Kings would’ve pulled off a win for sure.

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Ginebra fans are praying for a Game 5 on Friday. They’re not even thinking of a Game 6 at the moment. Their focus is Game 4, a do-or-die situation for the Kings. Uichico said one win will put Ginebra back on track and Alaska wondering if the Aces can close out.

For Ginebra to win tonight, the Kings must be on target in the perimeter. Three-point shooting is a big weapon for Ginebra but in the series, the Kings haven’t been too productive from beyond the arc. Alaska even had one more triple conversion in Game 1 and Ginebra’s edge was only two in Game 2 and one in Game 3.

Then, Ginebra must shackle the triangle, congest the passing lanes and make it difficult for Alaska’s medium-range gunners to find the spacing to get off good-look jumpers. Alaska executes with clinical precision and unless Uichico is able to disrupt the Aces’ flow, Ginebra will be in for a long night. Finally, the Kings must find an antidote to neutralize Alaska’s big men Thoss, Joe DeVance and Reynel Hugnatan. Maybe, Ginebra will zone to take away the pick-and-roll, limit low-block post-ups and gamble on Alaska taking low-percentage outside shots. Maybe, the Kings will consciously drive strong to the hoop, hoping to get Thoss and company into early foul trouble.

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For Alaska to win, the Aces must think closure, nothing else. Leaving the door open for a Ginebra comeback is dangerous. If the Aces lower their guard in Game 4, the momentum shift could be fatal. Coach Tim Cone’s boys shouldn’t think beyond tonight – they shouldn’t be comfortable with a 3-0 cushion even if the Kings will need to win four straight to eliminate Alaska.

Because Ginebra is shallow up front, the Aces should continue to attack the interior. Enrico Villanueva and Billy Mamaril are Uichico’s inside protectors but neither is a frightening shot-blocker with long arms. Alaska must be ready to extend its defense as Caguioa, Cruz, Helterbrand, Cyrus Baguio, Intal, Tubid and Salvacion are capable three-point riflemen.

To nail the series clincher, Miller must play true to form. He’s averaging only 10.7 points against the Kings. Of course, Cone can’t complain because despite Miller’s low output, the Aces haven’t lost a game in the series. The Thriller was held to just four points in Game 1 but Alaska compensated with a combined 41-point effort from bigs Thoss and DeVance. In Game 2, Miller was back in stride, collecting 18 points, six rebounds and seven assists. But in Game 3, which Ginebra almost stole, Miller compiled 10 points, nine rebounds, no assist and five turnovers.

Miller is Alaska’s undisputed go-to guy. When the Aces need a basket, the ball will be in Miller’s hands. And when Alaska needs to close out Ginebra, Miller must take charge.

In the double round eliminations, Alaska and Ginebra split their two-game series with the Aces drawing first blood, 105-96, and the Kings taking the rematch, 93-90.

If Ginebra loses tonight, it will go down fighting. But if the Kings somehow find a way to win, Alaska has some rethinking to do for Game 5 on Friday.

Source: Joaquin Henson  | Philstar.com