GORDON'S GIN power forward Noli Locsin matches up with Alaska's Bong Hawkins in the first half of their PBA All-Filipino game last night at the Astrodome. Alaska stopped Gordon's winning streak at three by posting a 99-91 victory. (Bob DUNGO Jr.)

Against a team off to its finest start in years, the Alaska Milk of old surfaced last night, bringing down erstwhile unbeaten Gordon's Gin, 99-91, and clawing back from that nightmarish defeat to Pure Foods Friday in the PBA All-Filipino Cup.

With Bong Hawkins back in harness, Jojo Lastimosa and Johnny Abarrientos got their game back and together, the trio accounted for all but 21 of the Alaskans' output and more importantly carried last year's grand slam champion back in the thick of things with their second win against as many setbacks.

Lastimosa, all but a shadow of himself in Alaska's 63-88 loss to Purefoods, bounced back with vengeance, firing a two-year best 33 points, including 22 in the final half, a season-high.

Abarrientos supported him with another season-best 31 while Hawkins, nursing a tonsilitis that he hopes to be operated on at the end of the conference, added 14. The 6-foot-3 Hawkins also had 16 rebounds, also a season- high.

Lastimosa's and Abarrientos' season best marked the first time that two players from the same team scored at least 30 points in a game this year.

Up by only five, 84-89, after leading by 15 at the start of the final period, the Alaskans, behind the deadly trio,sprang back to life with a 10-2 closing burst as Abarrientos cut loose with six points and the Alaska defense holding off a late Gordon's Gin surge.

The Alaskans' 99 points was the most scored this year against the Boars who were off to a 3-0 start following victories over Shell, San Miguel Beer and Pop Cola respectively.

Last night, however, things were a little bit different.

With the Alaskans controlling the boards, the Boars fell behind by as many as 15 points, 64-79, as Abarrientos got away with a trey, Lastimosa canned two free throws and Kevin Ramas scored on a follow-up of a Hawkins miss.

"I had a feeling we would play like this," bared Alaska coach Tim Cone who felt the team still had to recover from that euphoria of last year's grad slam feat. "We caught Gordon's a little tired from that Pop Cola game."

So off were the Boars, they were caught flat-footed several times by the Alaska offense and held to a measly 29 percent shooting in the first half which the Alaskans took 48-37. It was an uphill struggle for the Boars from there as Marlou Aquino was stymied time and again by the double teaming Alaskans.

Aquino finished with 21 points, behind the 22 of Noli Locsin.

Gordon's first loss in four games pulled them into a two-way tie for first with Sta. Lucia Realty which nipped Mobiline 66-64 in an out-of-town game in San Fernando Saturday.

With a 2-2 slate, the Alaskans, meanwhile, climbed into a tie with San Miguel which routed Formula Shell, 79-56 in the accompanying doubleheader in San Fernando. -MANNY ANGELES

Alaska halts Gordon's streak.

March 02,1997
Gordon's Gin tests Alaska mettle today.

March 01,1997
PureFoods rips Alaska Milkmen, 88-63.

Gordon's stays sparkling clear.

New twist in Jacobs-BCAP case.

PBA twinbill in Pampanga.

February 28,1997
Gordon's Gin eyes 3rd straight win.

February 27,1997
PBA, BAP talks slated?

San Mig is the best-coached team in the PBA --Chot Reyes.

February 26,1997
Mobiline outlasts Shell in overtime.

Jawo Jr. gets all the breaks.

February 25,1997
Mobiline vs Shell today.

PBA freezes Feihl.

February 24,1997
Rookie lifts Mobiline past PureFoods.

Buzzer-beating trey lifts Gordon's Gin.