The Gin Kings dominated the Aces in their PBA Commissioner's Cup showdown. Richard Esguerra, ABS-CBN Sports

MANILA, Philippines – Ramping up its drive for a quarterfinals spot, Barangay Ginebra overwhelmed the Alaska Aces, 105-86, in the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

It was Ginebra’s fourth consecutive victory, putting their record at an even 5-5 heading into their last game of the elimination round against GlobalPort.

As it stands, the Gin Kings are tied for sixth and seventh places with the Batang Pier.

The Aces, meanwhile, lost for the second game in a row after an 89-74 setback to Meralco last week. Their 7-3 slate puts them in a tie with TNT KaTropa for second and third places, and they remain in the hunt for the No. 2 seed which carries a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.

“We’re playing really well, guys are sharing the ball well, and our defense has really stepped up,” noted Ginebra coach Tim Cone after the game.

“I don’t know what we’re doing that’s making us play as good as we are, but it’s working. I wish I know what it was, so we can continue to do it,” he added.

READ: Waiting game for ROS as they secure top seed

Ginebra set the tone of the game right from the first quarter, as they unloaded a 30-point frame on the Aces. Justin Brownlee and Joe Devance took turns in torching Alaska in the opening frame, combining for 16 points.

They built a 25-point lead at the half, 63-38, and just kept pouring it on from there as Alaska never recovered from Ginebra’s early onslaught.

The Aces did make a brief run in the third quarter, opening the frame on an 8-1 run to trim Ginebra’s lead to 16 points, 64-48. But a huge slam dunk by Aguilar, followed by a Brownlee lay-up, turned the momentum back in the Gin Kings’ favor, and the perennial crowd favorites rolled from there.

“I’ve been here before, when Alaska makes those comebacks,” Cone noted. “I got a little worried in the third quarter, but we made a couple of big defensive plays, and we got going again.”

Ginebra led by as much as 33 points, 85-52, off free throws from LA Tenorio with 3:16 left in the third quarter.

Brownlee played just a shade under 30 minutes and finished with 28 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists, while Tenorio had 12 points and Aguilar added 10 markers.

Vic Manuel had 20 points for Alaska, marking the ninth game of the conference that he reached the 20-point margin. However, he had little help from his teammates. Import Antonio Campbell was limited to just six points on 2-of-9 shooting, and was minus-25 in 22 minutes of action.

Alaska’s record dropped to 7-3 heading into its final elimination round game against Phoenix.

The scores:

GINEBRA 105 – Brownlee 28, Tenorio 12, Aguilar J. 10, Mercado 10, Devance 7, Slaughter 7, Thompson 6, Caperal 6, Ferrer 6, Mariano 5, Chan 4, Aguilar R. 3, Cruz 1, Manuel 0, Caguioa 0.

ALASKA 86 – Manuel 20, Pascual J. 11, Pascual R. 7, Galliguez 7, Campbell 6, Banchero 6, Potts 6, Casio 5, Baclao 4, Enciso 4, Racal 3, Exciminiano 2, Magat 1, Thosai visions 0.

Quarter scores: 30-16; 63-38; 90-58; 105-86.

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