by Ivan Stewart Saldajeno/PNA
MANILA — Alaska secured the last seat in the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals after edging NLEX, 88-80, in a playoff at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay on Friday night.
The Aces limited the Road Warriors to just 25 points in the first half, only eight in the second quarter, before opening a 28-point lead in the third quarter that their opponents found insurmountable until the end.
Sonny Thoss made 21 points on 10-of-14 shooting, five rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal for Alaska, which will face Phoenix in the quarterfinals on Sunday night.
The Fuel Masters, the top-seeded team, owns a once-to-win advantage over the Aces.
Kenneth Ighalo had 16 markers, nine boards, one assist, and one steal for NLEX, which blew two chances of making the Final 8 and was knocked out of contention.
