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Alaska targets QF spot; Cruz makes SMB debut

Sports | Basketball

Alaska targets QF spot; Cruz makes SMB debut

By Jonas Terrado

Photo from PBA

Alaska seeks a place in the quarterfinals while moving closer towards a twice-to-beat advantage when it battles skidding Phoenix Super LPG Thursday, March 3 in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Aces can follow the lead of the Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots and NLEX Road Warriors and become the third team to punch its ticket to the quarters in the 3 p.m. match against the Fuel Masters.

Losers of three straight, the Fuel Masters have tapped new import Du’Vaughn Maxwell in a bid to avert their free fall.

San Miguel Beer aims to bounce back from Sunday’s loss to Magnolia as import Shabazz Muhammad and new addition Jericho Cruz hope to beat Rain or Shine in the second game at 6 p.m.

Muhammad is looking to be on the winning side this time after a 17-point defeat to the Hotshots in his debut while Cruz sees action for the first time after leaving the Road Warriors to sign with the Beermen as an unrestricted free agent.

Morale is high over at the Alaska camp after pulling off a dramatic 104-103 win over Meralco courtesy of a buzzer-beating jumper by RK Ilagan.

It was the third win in four games for the Aces since owner Wilfred Uytengsu announced that the season-ending conference will be their last in the pro league.

At 6-3, Alaska is in a position to extend its farewell tour which coach Jeffrey Cariaso and company will try to formalize against Phoenix.

Phoenix has fallen from inside the top four to a share of eighth place with surging NorthPort at 4-5, prompting management to tap the services of Maxwell, who has spent much of his pro career in Europe.

SMB tries to keep its chances of a twice-to-beat alive by improving a 5-4 record, currently good for joint fourth with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

Rain or Shine is desperate for a win after losing three straight to go 3-6 for 10th position.

Related Tags

Alaska Aces PBA Governorsâ€™ Cup pba

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