MANILA – The Alaska Aces banked on an early blitz to cripple the Blackwater Elite, 120-82, in their Philippine Basketball Association meeting at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center on Tuesday night.
Alaska outscored Blackwater, 38-17, in the first quarter and never looked back.
Barkley Ebona played his best game so far in his young PBA career with 24 points on 10-of-11 field goals, two rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and one steal to lead the Aces, who now won back-to-back games after a 0-2 start and tied their victims.
Robbie Herndon added 21 points on 5-of-7 shooting from three-point range, three rebounds, and three assists.
Ed Daquioag made 18 markers, two boards, two dimes, and one steal off the bench for the Elite.
In the first game, Meralco prevailed in the first overtime game of the PBA bubble, defeating Magnolia, 109-104.
The Bolts came back from a five-point deficit, 85-90, late into regulation and eventually finished the job late in the extra five minutes.
Down 96-98 early into overtime, three-pointers from Aaron Black and Chris Newsome sparked Meralco's game-turning 8-2 run that gave them a 104-100 lead with 1:24 to play in overtime.
Magnolia still got to inch closer as back-to-back field goals from Jack Corpuz and Mark Barroca drew the team to within one, 104-105, with 48.1 seconds remaining.
But Newsome, who split from the line during Magnolia's mini-run, made up for it by draining a fallaway jumper from just inside the free throw line to up the Bolts' lead to three, 107-104, with 9.3 seconds left.
His defense then forced Lee to a tough long two that rimmed out, and Raymond Almazan sealed the win with two free throws with 1.1 seconds to go.
Newsome finished with 23 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and two blocks for Meralco, which moved up to 2-2 in the standings.
Black played his best game so far in his rookie campaign with 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting, four rebounds, four assists, and one steal off the bench.
Lee finished with 32 points, four rebounds, two assists, and one steal for the now 1-3 Magnolia squad, which missed Ian Sangalang and Rome Dela Rosa due to injuries. (PNA)
