MANILA: With a brilliant run in the stretch, Alaska got back to what it has been doing for most part of the Philippine Cup – winning games.

The Aces broke free from what was a tight endgame with a closing run that Sta. Lucia was not able to stop as Alaska posted an 85-77 victory to snap a two-game losing streak and earn at least a tie for the second outright semifinal slot at the Araneta Coliseum.

“Gee, what can I say, it was a tough battle all night,” Alaska coach Tim Cone told scribes later. “We both battled out there and it was a joy to watch. We’re very happy that we came out on top and got the monkey off our back.”

Alaska improved to 12-3, while the Realtors took a first loss in their last three games that saw their aspirations of making the semifinals outright evaporate.

At 9-7, Sta. Lucia two games left and would need nothing less than a sweep to be able to console themselves with the next best thing, and that is to qualify automatically in the quarterfinals.

“But we’re not out in the clear yet, we still need (to win) another one,” added the Grand Slam-winning mentor, referring to the all-important 13th win that would allow his Aces to join San Miguel in the Final Four.

“We have to keep on going and battling, and hopefully, we can get a better rhythm.”

Joe Devance scored 17 points to pace Alaska, which got another brilliant backcourt performance from LA Tenorio, who finished with 15 points while coming up with some crucial assists in the dying minutes.

Alaska turned a 73-74 deficit into a five-point lead by scoring in its next three possessions before holding the Realtors scoreless for more of the final minute.

But the win did not come without any controversy, as the Realtors were up in arms after falling into that five-point hole when a driving Joseph Yeo was whistled for a questionable offensive foul.

That play, had it gone the other way, could have resulted in a three-point play after it appeared that the airborne Sta. Lucia swingman was fouled by Reynel Hugnatan.

“I still have to see tapes of the game before I can comment on that,” Cone said when asked what he would have done had that bum call gone against his squad. “It was a big call, definitely.”

Alaska will clash with Purefoods tomorrow and Burger King and Rain or Shine next week in closing out its elimination round schedule, needing just one win to formally nail the second Final Four slot and gain a break of at least three weeks.

As things stand, Alaska can make the semifinals just the same if Barangay Ginebra and Purefoods lose, meaning, the Tender Juicy Giants could win against the Aces tomorrow but could still end up settling for the quarterfinals with a loss in their final game.

At 11-6, Ginebra has one game left, a must-win outing, for the Gin Kings to get to 12 wins and hope for a playoff with Alaska.

Meanwhile, Coca-Cola brought down San Miguel in a game the Beermen didn’t need to win earlier in the day, 118-107, after getting conference high marks in scoring from Asi Taulava and Norman Gonzales.

“We’re very lucky catching San Miguel in a game that has no importance to them,” Tigers coach Bo Perasol said after Coca-Cola notched win No. 4 in 16 games to stay inside the magic circle of teams that will make the wildcard phase.

“It didn’t matter if we lost this game as long as we keep fighting until the end. The important thing was we have to feel good about ourselves after this game with two important games against Rain or Shine and Barako Bull coming up,” Perasol added.

Taulava scored 27 points and Gonzales 22 as the Tigers tied the Elasto Painters for eighth spot.