MANILA – Blackwater Elite relied on its locals im the endgame to hold off Alaska Aces, 112-104, in the 2019 Honda PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Elite got the much needed separation from the Aces at the latter part of the final quarter on back-to-back hits by Rey Mark Belo and a triple by Shej Roi Sumang to turn a 93-all count to a 102-96 spread.
The Aces made its last push to come to within 104-106, but a three-pointer by Rabeh Al-Hussaini and three more points from Sumang iced the win for the Elite.
Bobby Ray Parks Jr. flirted with triple-double with 25 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, while Sumang and Allein Maliksi had 18 and 15 markers, respectively, for the Elite.
Diamon Simpson finished with 24 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists, Chris Banchero added 18 markers, while Joachim Thoss and Vic Manuel have 15 each for the Aces.
At 7-4, the Elite is already assured of ending as the No. 3 seed in the best-of-three quarterfinals round, where they could face either Magnolia Hotshots or San Miguel Beermen.
On the part of the Aces, which dropped to 4-7 slate, they will have to wait for the outcome of the match between Meralco Bolts (3-7) and Beermen (5-5) on Wednesday to determine their quarterfinals fate.
In the second game, Justin Brownlee took over the scoring for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings in overtime for a 127-123 victory over the Columbian Dyip.
Brownlee came up with consecutive points in the extension period to surge the Kings ahead, 123-120. After the match was tied at 123-all, Brownlee came up with a jumper before LA Tenorio sealed the win for the Kings with free throws.
Brownlee finished the match with 50 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, four steals and four blocks for the Kings (7-4). Lester Prosper had 45 for the 3-8 Dyip./PN
