NEGROS OCCIDENTAL – Alaska needed another extra effort down the stretch to score another hard-earned victory in the 2008-09 KFC-Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup.

The Aces blanked Coca-Cola in the last two minutes, banking on the heroics of Sonny Thoss to grab a 69-62 win Saturday night at the Victorias Sports and Amusement Center here in Victorias City.

The 6’7” Thoss had one crucial putback, an important rebound and a defensive gem on Nic Belasco in the closing minutes of the game. That gave Alaska its second straight win in as many games to join Talk 'N Text and Rain or Shine at the top of the standings with a 2-0 win-loss slate.

The loss was second in a row for the Tigers, who seemed to have full control of the second half when Asi Taulava had 16 of his 21 points.

Thoss finished with 11 points, nine rebounds and three blocks as Alaska’s main man Willie Miller struggled the whole game with just three points under his name.

Miller's only points came when he completed a three-point play off Taulava that put the lead back to the Aces, 61-60, with 5:46 minutes left in the game.

But Taulava responded as Alex Cabagnot fed him perfectly inside the shaded lane for an undergoal stab to put the lead back to the Tigers at 62-61 with 2:08 remaining.

Those were the final points for Coke as Alaska denied them to get closer.

LA Tenorio cut loose on the defense of Cabagnot as he drove hard to the basket for a left-hand lay-up to reclaim the lead for the Aces at 63-62 with 1:34 minutes remaining.

Alaska, which eked out an 85-84 win over the San Miguel Beermen, actually started well, taking a 19-9 first quarter lead. Coke, however, made a run in the second period and outscored the Aces, 19-12, to cut down the lead to three points.

Taulava went to work in the third quarter as he unloaded 10 points to put the Tigers ahead at 51-48.

Actions will resume Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum as Talk 'N Text tries to break off from a three-way tie at the standings when it collides with defending champion Sta. Lucia Realty at 4 p.m.

Arwind Santos and Homer Se are set to return from a one-game suspension as Air21 with hopes to end a two-game slide when it goes up against crowd-favorite Barangay Ginebra in the main game at 6:30 p.m.