By Ivan Saldajeno
Dondon Hontiveros pulled off an impressive clutch shooting from beyond the arc as Alaska defeated Rain Or Shine, 79-76, to win their PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Hontiveros scored all of his five triples in the fourth quarter, where he helped the Aces hold off the Elasto Painters to clinch the best-of-seven affair in six games, 4-2.
But none was more important than the back-to-back three-pointers he fired to give Alaska the lead for good with 52.9 seconds left.
Rain Or Shine, behind Jonathan Uyloan and Jeff Chan, made an 8-2 run to take a 76-73 advantage.
But Hontiveros delivered the goods as he nailed the two successive long-range bombs to put Alaska up for good as Rain Or Shine misfired from downtown in its last three tries.
Hontiveros finished with 17 points and six rebounds for the Aces, who will face the San Miguel Beermen in the championship round beginning Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
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