Rookie RK Ilagan scored a buzzer-beating jumper to give Alaska a 94-93 win over Meralco in a thrilling finish to their PBA Governors’ Cup game held Saturday, Feb. 26 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Given the chance to come through in the clutch, Ilagan repaid coach Jeffrey Cariaso’s faith by crossing over Meralco’s Bong Quinto before knocking down the shot from about 20 feet that allowed Alaska to escape with the victory.
“I think when you work the hardest as RK does and when you put as hard a work as RK does, he deserves the opportunity,” said Cariaso, who had been impressed with Ilagan’s play since helping the Aces rally past the Terrafirma Dyip last week.
The Aces boosted their chances of a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals after staying inside the top four with a 6-3 record.
But Alaska had to do it with an all-Filipino lineup after import Olu Ashaolu was tossed midway into the fourth for elbowing Cliff Hodge in the jaw.
A few moments earlier, the Aces saw their 17-point lead disappear as Allein Maliksi sizzled for most of his 32 points before fouling out.
Ilagan, selected in the third round of last year’s draft out of San Sebastian, made 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting while Ashaolu and Mike DiGregorio topscored with 21 points apiece.
It was Alaska’s third win in the last four games since announcing that the season-ending conference would be the last for the franchise in the pro league.
The Aces also bounced back from a listless showing in a loss to the NLEX Road Warriors a few days ago.
Maliksi was 12-of-18 from the field while import Tony Bishop had 18 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and two steals but the Bolts couldn’t move past the idle Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots for the lead in the standings.
Instead, Meralco fell to second at 6-2.
The Bolts were up 89-83 with under four minutes left, but the Aces came back to pull within a point twice, the last at 93-92 on Abu Tratter’s basket.
Chris Banchero couldn’t drain a jumper for Meralco, Jeron Teng raced past midcourt before calling for a timeout, setting the stage for Ilagan to show nerves of steel.
The scores:
ALASKA 94 — Ashaolu 21, Digregorio 21, Teng 12, Ilagan 11, Tratter 9, Taha 7, Racal 7, Bulanadi 4, Faundo 2, Stockton 0, Ahanmisi 0.
MERALCO 93 — Maliksi 32, Bishop 18, Almazan 12, Newsome 9, Quinto 7, Banchero 6, Black 5, Hodge 4, Caram 0, Baclao 0.
Quarters: 23-19, 52-47, 81-69, 94-93.