MANILA: There’s one thing that KIA Motors has been doing consistently well in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup: Beat powerhouses with proud championship histories.

With hulking import PJ Ramos again doing a lot of damage, the Carnival on Tuesday night landed another big fish in Alaska, with a 103-89 win putting KIA in the playoff picture before the league goes into its annual All-Star Week.

Ramos drained 36 points and absolutely dominated inside with a tournament-best 33 rebounds as KIA bounced mightily back from a loss to fellow newcomer Blackwater over the weekend to rise to 4-5 and occupy eighth spot at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

All of KIA’s victories have come at the expense of proud champions, scoring its first against defending titlist Purefoods before bringing down reigning Philippine Cup king San Miguel Beer and then Talk 'N Text last weekend.

“I challenged the players to play harder,” assistant KIA coach Chito Victolero told reporters. “Last game (against the Elite), they were so flat. They had the tendency to relax coming off back-to-back wins.

“Now they realize that we have to work harder to make the playoffs,” Victolero added.

Ramos scored 32 of his total in the final three periods and tiny point guard LA Revilla also had another big outing with 10 points, five rebounds and the same number of assists.

Alaska, which finished second to San Miguel Beer in the Philippine Cup and which is still trying to shake off the effects of that long seven-game battle with the Beermen, dropped to 2-5 and is now in 10th spot.

The Aces would need to win their last four games to be able to make the playoff scot-free. Alaska is winless in three games since bringing over former San Antonio Spur Damion James in place of DJ Covington.

“We are more motivated right now. My players are communicating better on the floor,” Victolero said. “We will get a two-day rest and then go back to work to prepare for NLEX.”

Ramos was a match-up problem that the Aces weren’t able to solve as he threw his weight around with great effect, finding the open teammate when he got bottled up inside with the consistent Alaska double-team.

Jones, who was a member of the last San Antonio squad that won the NBA championship, paced the Aces with 25 points, 16 boards and four steals.

But Alaska suffered a blackeye early in the contest when starting point guard JV Casio sustained a nose injury after an accidental forearm from Revilla. He never returned.

KIA made five triples in the first quarter alone, with JR Cawaling accounting for three of them, including a four-point play off Ping Exciminiano, that had the Carnival taking the period, 28-27.

It was all KIA from there as the Aces, who also missed outside gunner Dondon Hontiveros, never came closer than two points the rest of the way.

The Beermen, meanwhile, snapped a three-game losing streak later in the night by clipping Barako Bull, 102-91, to fan their flickering playoff hopes.

San Miguel, which opened with three straight losses with Ronald Roberts as import, rose to 2-6 but remained tied for last place with Blackwater.

The Beermen would need to win their last three games and hope that winning five overall would not make them end up tied for the last playoff spots since they will lose in the quotients having lost to so many teams in playoff contention.

“Our fans have been very disappointed, and I cannot blame them,” San Miguel coach Leo Austria said. “We are still mentally and physically drained from the last seven-game series (with Alaska).

“That’s also what’s happening to them (Aces),” he continued. “But I told my players that we still have to work hard because this is our job.”

Arizona Reid scored 34 points and Arwind Santos, feeling better after being slowed down by a leg injury the past three games, scored 22 points that went with 13 rebounds.

JC Intal and import Solomon Alabi scored 25 points each to lead Barako Bull, which never gave up and came within one point several times in the fourth period.

Action stops for the weekend as the league travels to Puerto Princesa in Palawan for the All-Star Game to be played on Sunday between the North and South squads.