Alaska Aces routs Powerade

Cyrus Baguio & LD Williams

An excellent start for Alaska, a bad one for Powerade.

Import LD Williams showed what can be expected from him as he powered the Aces to a lopsided 106-82 beating of the Tigers Wednesday night for a rousing debut in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Astrodome.

One of the best players ever to come out of Wake Forest – the same quality basketball program that produced cage great Tim Duncan – Williams poured in 21 points and eight rebound, while leading a big Alaska surge in the opening half that decided the outcome of the one-sided game right away.

To Williams also belonged the day’s highlight reel play — collaring a long heave from teammate Bonbon Custodio with his left hand before throwing down a spectacular alley-oop dunk with 5:35 to play in the second period that put the Aces in front, 48-25.
"We see that (dunk) every game in practice," said Alaska coach Tim Cone of his prized import. The fans are going to love LD. He’s very young and he’s still learning the game. He’s really a good kid."

Williams suffered leg cramps midway in the third quarter, but by that time the Aces already had control of the game on their way to tying Barangay Ginebra on top of the standings.

The Alaska import had plenty of help from the locals, with Cyrus Baguio connecting on 9-of-11 from the field, including a perfect 4-of-4 from three-point range to show the way for Alaska with 24 points, while L.A. Tenorio had 15 points and six assists, and Joe Devance added only six points, but grabbed 11 rebounds and nine assists.

The Aces, reigning Fiesta Cup champions, broke the game wide open right in the first 12 minutes, when they shot 15-of-24 from the floor for a high 62.5 percent shooting.

Their hot hands allowed them to outscore the badly outclassed Tigers, 20-3, for a whopping 38-16 lead after the first quarter.

The lead ballooned to its biggest at 77-47 six minutes with left in the third quarter.

“We set a nice tone, a nice tempo in the first six to eight minutes," said Cone.

Import Russel Carter showed the way for Powerade with 34 points, but went 10-of-29 from the floor. He also added 17 rebounds.

Gary David was the lone bright spot for the Tigers with 17 markers, but he also struggled from the field in going 6-of-15.

In all, the Tigers shot a paltry 36.4 percent (28-of-77), while giving away 25 turnover points.