Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Alaska Aces battled back from 16 points down to beat Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 114-108, and clinch the first semifinals berth in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup Friday (June 26).
Import Romeo Travis finished with 29 points and 21 rebounds for the Aces, who stalled a last-minute fightback by the Gin Kings.
Vic Manuel and Sonny Thoss added 14 points apiece, while Dondon Hontiveros had 13.
Ginebra leaned on point guard Sol Mercado for the most part of the game before import Orlando Johnson took matters into his own hands in the dying minutes.
Mercado had 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field.
Johnson, who uncorked all his four three-pointers inside the final two minutes when Ginebra was staging a run, topscored for Ginebra with 28 points.
The scores:
ALASKA (114) – Travis 29, Manuel 14, Thoss 14, Hontiveros 13, Baguio 10, Banchero 9, Abueva 8, Casio 7, Dela Rosa 5, Jazul 3, Exciminiano 2, Baclao 0, Menk 0.
GINEBRA (108) – Johnson 28, Mercado 21, Slaughter 19, Aguilar 15, Tenorio 14, Kim 5, Baracael 4, Marcelo 2, Pena 0, Monfort 0, Brondial 0.
Quarterscores: 27-31, 45-53, 75-77, 114-108
