“We can’t win this game without our import,” he said.

Somehow, Tenorio conjured the will to bring the Aces back, and Joe Devance summoned the strength to play in a match he wasn’t supposed to.

Alaska ferociously fought back from an 11-point deficit with three minutes to go in regulation, and then outworked Meralco in overtime to salvage a classic 104-101 victory in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Friday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

Tenorio highlighted an 11-0 windup in regulation with two triples, Devance scored the first six points of Alaska in extra time, and Tony De La Cruz had a key basket and a crucial block off Champ Oguchi’s three-point shot in overtime as the Aces showcased the kind of discipline their franchise has been noted for so long.

In picking up its fifth win in seven games, Alaska may have clinched a berth in the six-team quarterfinal round.

Alaska, in fact, could have won the game in regulation. But Cyrus Baguio, fouled by Reynel Hugnatan in the act of a follow-up shot with 0.3 seconds left to play and with the Bolts up by 94-93, bungled his second free throw. Baguio also failed to convert the follow-up after his charity miss, his attempt hitting the backrim and the ball bouncing off.

Tenorio finished with a career-high 33 points – all in the second half – while Devance added 19 and Baguio 17.

“My players won the battle,” said Alaska coach Tim Cone. “It’s just incredible to watch LA do those kinds of stuff. In this kind of tournament, every game is crucial.”

Williams was thrown out with 7:52 remaining in the first quarter. Williams threw an elbow on Mark Cardona’s face after the Meralco hotshot tried to grab the ball out of his hands as he was trying to tend on his eye that was inadvertently poked. Cone reacted to the F2 and was slapped with a technical, giving the Bolts three free throws Cardona all converted.

“I can’t see why he (Williams) should be called a flagrant foul and thrown out of the game. His eyes were closed. He didn’t hit anybody intentionally. He was just protecting the ball after his eyes got poked,” said Cone.

Overshadowed by the drama of Alaska’s win was Talk ’N Text, which became the first team to formally make it to the quarterfinal round. Talk ’N Text won in six games.

Talk ’N Text, which led by as large as 32 (117-85), has now won six straight after a 103-98 defeat to Smart-Gilas on Feb. 25, looking better and better in every game as the franchise seeks to get closer to an outright berth in the semi-finals.

“We just want to make sure that we string up wins,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes. “We want to continue to play hard.”

The Beermen, for their part, dropped their fifth straight game and are now 1-6 (win-loss) in the standings. Their chances of making it to the playoffs are now slim, with Derby Ace and Rain or Shine still in the line-up of opponents.

Import Paul Harris led TNT with 31 points, while Harvey Carey contributed 16 points and 12 rebounds.

David Young topscored for San Miguel Beer with 35 points.

It was a courageous effort, indeed, for the Aces even to think that they have an opportunity to win the contest. Devance was not in game shape, his ankle still in pain and swollen after the game Alaska lost against Talk ’N Text in Cagayan de Oro last March 19.

“Joe wasn’t supposed to play today, his ankle is still like a tennis ball,” said Tim Cone. “He said he’s feeling some pain but he can get through it.

"He told me he was ready to go. He showed a lot of courage today.

“I think it’s easier to play knowing that you don’t have an import because you can prepare for that. Losing an import is much harder. I was ready to concede but the players were ready to battle and they did.”

Regulation ended at 94-94, and Meralco had the first taste of the lead in extra time after Oguchi knocked in a jumper at the left corner.

But Devance scored six straight points, and after Oguchi had a layup, De La Cruz hit an open jumper with 28.7 seconds to go to make it a 102-98 ball game. Oguchi missed a three-point shot in the next play, and Tenorio had a split before Sol Mercado drained a triple with 6.4 ticks to go. Tenorio had another split and the Bolts bungled their chance to send the game into a second overtime after Cardona threw an off-balanced shot.