“We didn’t want it to be our last game. That in itself is a challenge and a motivation all on its own,” said Alaska head coach Jeffrey Cariaso. 

“So we tried to use that to motivate us even more, for us to be focused even more, for us to be ready even more, play together even more,” he added.

NLEX was able to get past ahead of Alaska in the early game with a whopping 14 points advantage with having four-straight shots not letting the Aces score in between, 10-23, and was only broken by Yousef Taha’s two-point shot but was eventually recouped by a three for NLEX, 12-26.

The tables turned around as NLEX was stuck at a score of 38 and watched the Aces climb up the scoreboard and ended the second quarter with a two points advantage, 40-38.

The third and fourth quarter was also no good for NLEX as Mark SaintFort and Jeron Teng tandem registered 17 and 16 points, respectively.

NLEX tried to close the gap but Aces rained them down with its two-consecutive threes from the outside, 91-75. With one minute left in the last quarter, the Road Warriors had no choice but face defeat, 93-79.

The Scores: 

Alaska 93 – Saint Fort 17, Teng 16, Tratter 12, Tolomia 10, DiGregorio 9, Taha 9, Ahanmisi 6, Bulanadi 5, Ilagan 3, Racal 3, Faundo 3, Stockton 0, Adamos 0

NLEX 79 – Clark 25, Alas 17, Trollano 12, Rosales 7, Paniamogan 5, Quinahan 4, Nieto 3, Chua 2, Soyud 2, Ighalo 2, Miranda 0, Varilla 0

Quarters: 12-26; 40-38; 64-55; 93-79