Aces nip Kings behind Miller trey

Alaska coach Tim Cone was certain it was a game they didn't win but Barangay Ginebra lost.

Cone thought the Aces played with little energy and enthusiasm, and barely pulled through on Willie Millers' heroics at endgame.

Miller scored 10 of his 18 points in the last two minutes of play and the Aces overcame an eight-point deficit in the homestretch, squeezing out an 82-81 win over the Kings Friday in the Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

"We just got a little lucky. They outplayed and outhustled us. We really didn't win this game. Ginebra lost it," said Cone.

Almost everybody in the venue had thought the Kings had won the contest as they took an eight-point cushion at 80-72 with time down to 2:38.

But Miller had another thing in mind.

The two-time MVP awardee went 4-of-5 from the field inside the last two minutes, including two three-pointers, the last pushing Alaska ahead at 82-81 with 7.6 seconds left.

After a Ginebra timeout, the ball went to Chico Lanete who misfired a three-point attempt, sending the Aces to a frenzied celebration as they notched a second straight win since the return of Rosell Ellis.

The Aces improved to 2-3 while the Kings slid deeper in the standings, joining the Coca-Cola Tigers and the Barako Bull Energy Boosters at 1-4.

"We did a good job coming back. We didn't panic. Along the way, Ro (Ellis) made tremendous defense, and that keyed us as well," said Cone.

Ellis came through with 16 points and 13 rebounds in his second game with the Aces this conference. Reynel Hugnatan chipped in 14 points while Joe Devance added 10 for Alaska in a duel of walking wounded.

The Aces played the game without Jeffrey Cariaso, Tony dela Cruz and Brandon Cablay while the Kings were sans Eric Menk, Junthy Valenzuela and Mark Caguioa.

The two teams fought to a 40-all deadlock in the first half before the Aces started with a 13-0 tear in the third quarter then the Kings countered with a 9-0 roll.

The Aces stayed ahead, 63-60, at the end of the third before the Kings worked on a decisive run, seizing control at 71-65 halfway through the final period.

It appeared the Kings would go on to snap a three-game skid but Miller stepped on their way at the finish.

Miller started his endgame exploits with a triple followed by back-to-back twinners that pushed them within a point at 79-80 with 47 seconds to go.

The Kings gave the Aces the chance to steal the game as Rod Nealy missed a trey then Jayjay Helterbrand split from the stripe in their next two possessions. (NC)

The scores:

Alaska 82 - Miller 18, Ellis 16, Hugnatan 14, De Vance 10, Tenorio 7, Thoss 7, Borboran 4, Fonacier 4, Ferriols 2.

Ginebra 81 - Nealy 23, Tubid 13, Helterbrand 12, Wilson 10, Cabatu 6, Mamaril 6, Intal 4, Reavis 4 , Lanete 3, Artadi 0.

Quarterscores: 19-18, 40-40, 63-60, 82-81.


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