PBA Finals: Aces rip Mixers in post-Tim Cone era

Alaska Milk has clinched the first Finals berth in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, as it thrashed San Mig Coffee, 83-78, in Game 4 of their best-of-five semis series last night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum, in Cubao, Quezon City.

This is Alaska’s first entry into the PBA Finals since its famed coach Tim Cone had left the team for San Mig Coffee, and only its third conference under head coach Luigi Trillo.

The Alaska Aces kept the fire burning and battled back from a 15-point third quarter to win three games to one and deprive the Coffee Mixers of a chance to continue defending their title in the 2013 PBA’s Cebuana Lhuillier playoffs.

Rob Dozier finished with conference-low six points, although five of these were posted in the final 2.05 of the game, including a shotblock-beating triple. This brought the Aces to break away from a slim 77-76 lead.

The players who scored double digits for the Milkmen were Cyrus Baguio, Jvee Casio and rookie Calvin Abueva, with 16, 15 and 14 points respectively.

Denzel Bowles finished with 23 points and 22 rebounds, leading the Mixers who missed the company of James Yap on court as the was suffering from a worsening back injury.

“The last time the Alaska Aces were in the Finals was in the 2010 Fiesta Conference, where they won the last of their 13 championships under Cone,” PBA, or Philippine Basketball Association, said.

The Aces will now wait the winner in today’s duel between crowd favourite Barangay Ginebra and Talk ‘N’ Text in their best-of-five semis series for the championship that will start from Wednesday.

Scoreboard:

Alaska Milk (Aces) 83 – Baguio 16, Casio 15, Abueva 14, Thoss 9, Dela Cruz 9, Espinas 7, Dozier 6, Hontiveros 5, Jazul 2, Belasco 0.

San Mig Coffee (Mixers) 78 – Bowles 23, Devance 18, Barroca 14, Simon 10, Pingris 5, Mallari 3, Reavis 3, Najorda 2, Gonzales 0, De Ocampo 0.

Quarterscores: 25-24, 34-48, 60-64, 83-78