Aces down Whoppers, stay unbeaten

Game on Saturday (Victorias City)
5 p.m. - Sta. Lucia vs San Miguel

The last time Alaska went 6-0, the Tim Cone-mentored squad won a championship - the then Commissioner's Cup which was part of a its "grand slam" drive in 1996.

On Friday night, the Aces, looking good as a solid title-contender, claimed their sixth straight win to stay unbeaten by handing the Burger King Whopper an 87-73 beating in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

Former two-time league Most Valuable Player (MVP) Willie Miller had 19 points, 13 of which came in the first quarter, while forward Reynel Hugnatan came off the bench to contribute 16 markers with eight boards and three assists to help the Aces repeat that 6-0 start. The team actually went 9-0 although it was during the 2003 Invitational tournament.

"It's pretty amazing our guys know how to stay grounded," Cone said.

"I didn't expect it to be like this. I thought that we might come out a little flat, (but) we talked about it, we warned our guys. They did a great job of getting prepared. Seeing the possibility, they've been really good on that," Cone added.

The Aces, who ruled the boards, 56-44, took control early as they grabbed a 27-19 advantage with the 5-foot-11Miller scattering 13 markers, had a 43-34 lead at halftime, and padded it to 72-54 entering the final frame.

Hugnatan's jumper put Alaska up by 25 points, 83-58, with 7:55 left which the Whopper failed to overhaul for their fourth setback in five games.

Ronjay Buenafe led Burger King with 15 points, while Richard Yee added 13. Rookie Ronnie Matias and Beau Belga contributed 10 points each.

In the opener, guest team Smart-Gilas finally played true to form as it surprised Coca-Cola, 98-93.

It was Gilas' first win against a PBA ballclub after dropping its first three games although it won't reflect anymore on the win-loss record of the pro teams after Commissioner Sonny Barrios, upon recommendation of the PBA board, decided to make the matches against the Nationals as no-bearing.

The scores:

First Game
SMART-GILAS 98 - Tiu 18, Barocca 15, Aguilar 14, Ababou 12, Al-Hussaini 12, Giles 11, Ramos 7, Barracael 6, Casio 3, Cawaling 0, Ballesteros 0, Jazul 0.
COCA-COLA 93 - Espino 23, Macapagal 15, Rodriguez 14, N. Gonzales 13, Rizada 10, W. Gonzales 7, Cabagnot 3, Cruz 3, Allera 3, Catli 2, Santos 0.
Quarters: 28-20, 53-49, 74-70, 98-93.

Second Game
ALASKA 87 - Miller 19, Hugnatan 16, De Vance 13, Fonacier 8, Thoss 8, Cariaso 5, Burtscher 4, Tenorio 4, Ferriols 4, Dela Cruz 4, Borboran 2, Cablay 0.
BURGER KING 73 - Buenafe 15, Yee R. 13, Matias 10, Belga 10, Sharma 8, Lanete 6, David 5, Quinahan 4, Yee M. 2, Williams 0, Aban 0, Billones 0.
Quarters: 27-19, 43-34, 72-54, 87-73.