SUDDEN DEATH FRIDAY

With the breaks not going on its way, Alaska yielded Game 2 to Red Bull and face them once more on Friday in a winner-take-all Game 3 at the Big Dome.

The Aces lost head coach Tim Cone midway in the third period due to controversial calls and surrendered an 84-71 decision to the Barakos Thursday night in the PBA Fiesta Conference at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.Alaska was held to its conference-low 25 points in the first half and could not get its bearing after the break, mainly because of questionable calls, to fall in Game 2 that resulted to 1-1 tie of their best-of-three quarterfinal series.

Dickey Simpkins seemed to be the only Alaska player in his element as he topscored the Aces with 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds but lack of support from the local crew spelled their defeat.

But the Barakos also got some breaks in the game when Cone was ejected at 4:23 mark of the third period for arguing with the referees.

He received all of his technical fouls in that stage, the first one came when the referees missed a traveling violation on Vergel Meneses.

Lordy Tugade sank the technical free throw that gave the Barakos a 52-34 lead.

That ploy seemed to work in favor of the Aces as his wards unloaded an 8-2 run to slice the margin to 42-54.

Meneses drilled a three-pointer in the ensuing play and after Alaska came empty in the next possession, Cone was again whistled for his second technical foul as game officials called a loose ball foul on Bong Hawkins over Cyrus Baguio.

Since then, Alaska became a different team as the squad managed to score just five points and Red Bull erected its biggest lead to 25 points, 72-47 entering the final quarter.

With nothing going right after the ejection of Cone, assistant Dickie Bachmann pulled out Simpkins and Jeffrey Cariaso at 8:25 mark of the fourth period that signaled they ceded the game to the Barakos.

Alaska was held to just 25 points in the first 24 minutes as the team was held to just 29 percent shooting (9-of-31), committing 14 turnovers that translated to 15 turnover points by Red Bull.

Don Allado added 9 points while Mike Cortez was held to just 8 markers to go along with 4 rebounds and 4 assists.

Jeffrey Cariaso was limited to just 7 points on 2-of-8 shooting from the floor. Seldom-used Rob Duat also netted 7.

The Aces also struggled in the 15-foot line as they missed 11 of their 30 attempts and had 23 turnovers in the match.