BONG HAWKINS drives to the basket in this piece of action from last night's game. Shell defeated Alaska, 78-70.(Bob DUNGO Jr.)

W ith Ronnie Magsanoc around, Formula Shell has always been a potent force. Without him, the Zoom Masters were surprisingly even better.

Forced to play without their ailing Point Laureate, Formula Shell stepped up its game a notch higher last night, resulting ina 78-70 conquest of defending champion Alaska Milk that had itsheart somewhere in the PBA All-Filipino Cup.

Rommel Santos and Richie Ticzon, taking the cudgels for Magsanoc who was nursing a sprained right thigh, took over in an inspired Zoom Master surge in the final half as they carried theirteam to two 11 point leads, the last at 78-67 from where the Alaskans never recovered.

Nelson Asaytono turned the grudge match between San Miguel Beer and Mobiline into a one-man show, firing a season-high 42 points as the Beermen repulsed the Cellulars, 90-83.

The 6-foot-3 Asaytono drilled in all but 10 of the Beermen's 34 points in the third quarter where San Miguel pulled away, 64-51, after trailing, 30-32, in the first half.

"This is a great win for us," said SMB coach Ron Jacobs who took over the chores of Norman Black who now calls the shots for Mobiline. ``Who gave us a chance, nobody." It was the third win in five outings for the Beermen while it was the third loss against as many wins for the Cellulars.

It was only the second win in five games for the Zoom Masters but for coach Chito Narvasa, it was a victory worth all the peptalk.

"Nagising rin,'' he exclaimed as he paid tribute to his boys who previously were but shadows of their former selves at the start of the conference.

Benjie Paras led Shell with 17 points, Santos contributed 14, Victor Pablo had 13 while Ticzon added 10 in a show of balancedscoring that had Narvasa beaming at the end of the game.

"I'm sure everybody just wanted to play. What we really wanted to show was aggressiveness which was absent in our previous games,'' Narvasa said.

"Ronnie would have also stepped up his game had he played.

Gigil na gigil na yan, eh.'' The setback sent the Alaskans into a tie with the Zoom Mastersat 2-3 but more painfully sent their title retention bid injeopardy. -MANNY ANGELES

March 07,1997
Alaska plays slumping Shell tonight.

It's Black versus Jacobs in Mobiline-SMB clash today.

March 05,1997
Mobiline buries troubled Pop Cola deeper in the cellar.

Pumaren's `firing' denied; cagers blamed.

March 04,1997
Gordon's Gin, Sta. Lucia clash in battle of leaders.

Pumaren on his way out?

March 03,1997
Alaska stops Gordon's streak.

Jaworski charms PBA reporters.

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.