By Ivan Saldajeno
QUEZON CITY--After getting limited to only 68 points against Kia the last time out, Barako Bull appeared to be back on a roll after scoring 62 points in the first half.
Alaska took over in the last 24 minutes.
The Aces fought back from a huge halftime deficit to hand the Energy their first losing skid after a 101-95 win in a rare Saturday Metro Manila game of the PBA Governors' Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Down 40-62 at the half, Alaska slowly chipped the lead and came to within one, 70-71, with 2:11 left in the third quarter.
Barako slightly stretched its lead to seven, 81-74, early in the fourth quarter, but a 21-5 Alaska run gave the team the edge, 95-86, with under three minutes remaining in the game.
Joseph Yeo and R.R. Garcia tried to keep the Energy in the game after teaming up for an 8-0 run to cut the lead to one, 95-94, with less than two minutes left.
Jvee Casio, however, buried the dagger triple with 1:24 to go as the opposing side failed to convert on three-point tries in the end.
Romeo Travis led the Aces with 23 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block, while Chris Banchero added 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and a steal off the bench.
Liam McMorrow finished with 26 points, 15 rebounds, two assists, three steals, and a block for the Energy.
Box Scores:
Alaska 101-Travis 23, Banchero 20, Abueva 16, Jazul 11, Dela Rosa 9, Casio 8, Manuel 6, Baguio 4, Exciminiano 4, Thoss 0, Baclao 0, Hontiveros 0, Eman 0, Menk 0, Dela Cruz 0
Barako Bull 95-McMorrow 26, Garcia 19, Yeo 18, Lanete 18, Intal 10, Wilson 2, Ababou 2, Hubalde 0, Pascual 0, Maierhofer 0
Quarterscores: 17-32, 40-62, 72-78, 101-95