Alaska bucks Ashaolu injury, snaps skid at Blackwater’s expense

December 23 ------ Alaska blasted Blackwater, 98-75, to snap out of its two-game funk in the 2021-22 PBA Governors’ Cup, Wednesday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum. Showing how much they have learned from their heartbreaking losses to Ginebra on TNT, the Aces broke the game wide open in the third quarter and never let up en route to extending the Bossing’s historic losing skid to 24.

Maverick Ahanmisi led the way with a personal conference-high 17 points on an efficient 6-of-10 shooting from the field, alongside eight rebounds, two assists, and two steals in the victory that hiked their record to 3-2. The Fil-Am cager gave his side their first double-digit lead of the game, 55-45, through a triple early in the third. And that kickstarted the telling 14-2 run en route to a 66-47 advantage with less than five minutes left in the said frame.

Never was the game in doubt from that point on. The MIlkmen went on to lead by as many as 26, 92-66, behind another Ahanmisi trey, 4:01 left to play. Jeron Teng finished with 14 points and eight rebounds. Mike Tolomia and Robber Herndon added 12 markers apiece as the locals finished the game for Alaska with the premature exit of import Olu Ashaolu. The veteran import reportedly suffered a calf strain and was subbed out at the 7:47-mark of the third. He left with 10 points and seven rebounds.

Meanwhile, Rashawn McCarthy led Blackwater with 16 points. Ed Daquioag was the only other double-digit scorer with 12 points. Jaylen Bond was limited to just two points and five rebounds as the American reinforcement was limping apparently because of an injury.

Source: tiebreakertimes.com