MANILA, 17 April 2008 — Alaska coach Tim Cone certainly sounded more pleased at the team he beat rather than his squad that practically bled to dodge the upset ax.
“Mark my word, Welcoat will surprise the PBA one of these days,” Cone said after a 92-90 victory over the Dragons last night put the Aces to .500 in the Fiesta Cup eliminations.
“They almost beat us and they should have beaten Coca-Cola the last time out.” Jeffrey Cariaso bailed the Aces out with a jumper from near the keyhole and the shot clock about to expire, showing Alaska ahead for good before errors in the final minute sealed Welcoat’s fourth straight loss.
Welcoat has now lost its last 15 games, counting its last 11 in the Philippine Cup eliminations. And the Dragons are now just within three more setbacks of equaling the all-time mark in futility in a season held by the 1980 Presto team.
Cyrus Baguio pumped in 25 of his 27 points in the second half, including the game-clinching jumper with 12 seconds left in the second game that keyed a 98-96 victory over Purefoods.
The 6-foot-2 leaper was at his elements on the first official game since Junthy Valenzuela was announced formally traded to Barangay Ginebra, carrying the fight almost by his lonesome in the third period and in the stretch when it mattered.
Import Adam Parada was also a lot of help, scattering 22 points aside from pulling down 16 rebounds in another monster performance.
“This is a historic chapter for the team, because Junthy is the last original member of team,” Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao said. “We consider this a new start for the franchise and we don’t want to look at the trade as a setback rather as a challenge.
“This (win) is the best way to usher in the new chapter of the Red Bull franchise.” Red Bull improved to 3-1 with the win and tied idle Coca-Cola in second spot, while the Tender Juicy Giants went down into a tie with Alaska.
“I’m not pleased with the way things happened,” added Cone. “But we’ll take the win.
“Right now, my team is playing food minutes, not good quarters and certainly not good halves,” Cone continued. “We’ll get things done in time and I honestly think that in the end, we can be able to contend well.” Randy Holcomb scored 26 points and pulled down 15 rebounds to lead the Aces, who actually avoided their first losing streak of the tournament after taking an 81-89 defeat at the hands of Magnolia last week.
Marquis Gainous led the Dragons with 30 points and 19 rebounds, but he missed a key free throw in the final 1.6 seconds that did not help the Dragons any. He actually had two attempts, but deliberately missed the second in the hope of an offensive rebound.
In a game that had 22 lead chances and eight deadlocks, the Dragons were able to overhaul a 12-point deficit in the second period to even led by 81-79 on a basket from Corey Santee with 6:26 left.
Holcomb, however, scored seven straight points capped by a brilliant three-point play from a Santee foul.
And when it looked like the Dragons were again ready to fold up, Froilan Baguion nailed back-to-back triples that shoved Welcoat ahead, 90-89 with 1:21 remaining before Santee turned the ball over twice and Jay-R Reyes threw an airball. Cariaso then hit that go-ahead jumper over the arms of Gainous, capping an 11-point fourth quarter effort which, Cone said later on, came as no surprise.
“He’s a veteran,” Cone said of the 1995 Rookie of the Year. “He has been in that situation so many times in his career and he has had a lot of successes.” Santee committed a turnover with 38 seconds left and then had another in the final 13.6 when he lost the leather to Willie Miller, who was fouled and made one of two charities for a 92-90 count.
The Dragons had a full 7.6 seconds to send the game into overtime, and Alaska gave up its remaining foul to put further pressure on Welcoat by fouling with 5.3 seconds to go. Gainous had the right idea and took a shot and was fouled, but couldn’t drain the free throws.
