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 Alaska Milk stayed sharp despite a long 23-day layoff, picking up from where it left off in the elimination round as it repulsed reigning champion Sta. Lucia Realty, 92-76, in Game One of their KFC PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinal round at the Araneta Coliseum last night.
The Aces engaged the Realtors in a defensive battle in the first three quarters before making a decisive run in the payoff period to stretch their streak to three games dating back to the elims which they topped with a 12-6 win-loss record.
Willie Miller churned out a near triple-double game with 14 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists with Joe Devance, Sonny Thoss, LA Tenorio and Tony dela Cruz each contributing double-digit output as the Aces stopped the Realtors’ five-game romp bridging the elims and the playoff phase.
“We had an ugly first half but defense kept us in the game. Then they missed some three-pointers in the fourth quarter. It would have been a battle till the end had they made it,” said Alaska coach Tim Cone.
Getting back in groove right in their first game in over three weeks, Cone hoped they would make it 2-0 tomorrow.
“We still have the memory battling them a year ago. We know we won Game One easily but they turned it around, winning the next two games. Our goal right now is to come out and make a follow-up in Game Two,” said Cone.
Cone gave credit to Miller’s superb performance in their Game One triumph.
“Willie missed six of his seven shots and had four errors in the first half. But after a talk at halftime, he came out and played a spectacular second half. That’s what makes Willie very valuable,” said Cone.
The two-time MVP winner produced 12 points, eight rebounds and six assists in the second half and led the Aces in their lethal attack from a 71-all deadlock in the final canto.
Miller’s lone three-pointer in the contest capped a 14-2 run that gave the Aces an 85-73 advantage entering the last three minutes of play.
“I think we didn’t look sharp but we neither got tired. The hardest thing to do is not just to stay sharp but to stay in shape. I think we did, and credit goes to our trainers,” said Cone.
Cone said the team tried to get in shape during its long break by getting extended hours in practice.
Despite this, the Aces came out a little flat, held down to 16 points in the first quarter and to 38 in the first half.
The Aces, however, put up a good defensive job and kept the Realtors from pulling away.
In the end, Alaska’s defensive effort proved to be the key as the Aces held the Realtors’ shooting to 35.9 percent while converting 52.2 percent of their own.
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