SIMON Enciso had 23 points, Chris Banchero added 20 points each, and Alaska never trailed on its way to a 104-78 win over Barangay Ginebra on Sunday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center.
Enciso and Banchero scored the first seven points of the game and never looked back as the two also got solid contributions from Carl Bryan Cruz and Ping Exciminiano in the win.
The Aces improved their record to 3-2, atoning for their loss to Phoenix Pulse just last Friday to take third place in the standings.
The Kings looked sluggish following a three-week break to drop their record to 3-3 after ending their two-game winning streak.
Banchero converted back-to-back baskets, while Enciso hit a triple for a 7-0 lead to set the tone of the match for the Aces in the wire-to-wire win. The Kings found no answer to the Aces’ attack as they trailed by as many as 30 points in the contest.
“I expect that we will play hard but I didn’t expect that kind of result,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton. “I was hoping to force a close game to the end. I was hoping. I did not foresee that.”
Enciso shot 3 of 7 from threes, and Banchero also chipped in eight assists in the Aces victory. Cruz had 12 points and converted four of his six triples in the game, as Exciminiano also added 12 points for Alaska.
Japeth Aguilar had 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Greg Slaughter contributed 15 points and 14 rebounds for the Kings.
Controversy shrouded the end game when Ginebra coach Tim Cone walked away from Compton for the traditional handshake after Enciso hit a late triple when the result of the game was already settled. Compton went to Cone to explain but got no response from the former Alaska coach.
The scores:
Alaska 104 – Enciso 23, Banchero 20, Cruz 12, Exciminiano 12, Ayaay 9, Thoss 8, Pascual 8, Teng 7, Galliguez 5, Baclao 0, Andrada 0.
Ginebra 78 – J. Aguilar 17, Thompson 15, Slaughter 15, Tenorio 11, Caguioa 7, Dela Cruz 4, Ferrer 3, Mercado 2, Devance 2, Mariano 2, Chan 0, Caperal 0.
Quarters: 27-19; 53-24; 81-53; 104-78.
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