Alaska's MIke Burtscher rejects Ginebra's Rich Alvarez during the PBA action Sunday night at the Araneta Coliseum. At right is Alaska's forward Reynel Hugnatan (Photo by ALI VICOY)

Games on Wednesday (Araneta Coliseum)

5:00 p.m. — Barako Bull vs. Rain or Shine
7:30 p.m. — San Miguel vs. Talk 'N Text

Unbeaten Alaska Mile blew a 20-point lead late in the first half but came back strong in the fourth quarter to deal Barangay Ginebra its first defeat, 105-96, in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup Sunday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

Veteran forward Reynel Hugnatan came off the bench to score 20 points together with eight rebounds, and joined former two-time Most Valuable PLayer (MVP) Willie Miller in fuelling an Alaska surge in the fourth quarter.

The win was the Aces' fourth in a row this all-Filipino conference, matching the team's start the previous season.

The Kings fell to 3-1.

After leading by as man as 20 points late in the second period, 60-40, on a jumper by MIller (who finished with 11 points), Alaska was outscored in the third period by Ginebra, 38-22, that trimmed the deficit to only to, 80-82, entering the fourth period.

During the Kings' third quarter blitz, Ronald Tubid scored 11 points and reigning MVP Jayjay Helterbrand had 10 as they combined for five three-pointers.

"I always tell the guys that when the game is going easy, it's going to come at you," Alaska coach Tim Cone said. "They (Aces) came out loosey-loosey in the second half, and (Ginebra coach) Jong (Uichico) got his team all fired up and the game got really hard."

"We knew no matter what happens, Ginebra will make a run. It is how we get up, it is how we responded that's important," Cone added.

Alaska opened the fourth quarter with seven straight points, highlighted by a three-point play from John Ferriols off Billy Mamaril, which gave them an 89-80 advantage with 9:55 left in the game.

The closest Ginebra got was at 90-92 when Helterbrand made a tough driving layup inside the heart of the Alaska defense, but the 5-foot-11 Miller responded with a jumper to make it 96-90 with 6:11 to play.

The Aces also came through with several defensive stops down the stretch.

LA Tenorio (15 points) stole the leather from Sunday Salvacion, which led to n easy layup to make it 101-93. After Salvacion made two of three free throws, Hugnatan colared an offensive rebound off a Tenorio missed jumper and then MIller converted a jumper to make it a 103-95 lead for the Aces with 1:02 to play.

In the next play, Sonny Thoss blocked Rico Villanueva's attempt, and Tenorio canned two free throws for a 105-95 lead, with only 44.5 ticks left on the clock.

The scores:

First Game:
ALASKA 105 — Hugnatan 20, Dela Cruz 16, Tenorio 15, MIller 11, Devance 10, Ferriols 9, Fonacier 8, Thoss 6, Borboran 5, Cariaso 5, Burtscher 0.

GINEBRA 96 — Helterbrand 23, Tubid 22, Intal 13, Villanueva 11, Salvacion 8, Mamaril 7, Alvarez 6, Wilson 2, Cruz 2, Baguio 2.

Quarters: 32-26, 60-42, 82-80, 105-96.

Second Game:
TALK 'N TEXT 100 — Cardona 25, Castro 16, Alapag 12, Belasco 12, Peek 11, Ritualo 8, De Ocampop R. 6, Carey 6, De Ocampo Y. 4, Escobal 0, Isip 0.

STA. LUCIA 83 — Yeo 17, Omolon 17, Espinas 16, Reyes 11, Williams 9, Daa 6, Urbiztondo 5, Pacana 2, Waters 0. Larong 0, Misolas 0, Aquino 0.

Quarters: 22-18, 48-42, 76-62, 100-83