MANILA, Philippines – Alaska is off to a strong start in the 2018 PBA Commissioner's Cup, thanks in part to Vic Manuel's electrifying plays off the bench.

Known as the "Muscle Man," the undersized forward has been providing offense and hustle for an Alaska side that has now won three games in a row after losing their first game of the conference against Rain or Shine.

Alaska's most recent win came with the 6-foot-4 Manuel at the forefront.

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The veteran fired a career-high 29 points, making 12 of his 19 field goals, while grabbing 12 rebounds, to power Alaska to a 110-100 triumph over the TNT KaTropa in their game at the Ynares Sports Arena in Antipolo.

Manuel's impressive effort earned him the PBA Press Corps Player of the Week award for the period of May 7-13, edging out Meralco's Baser Amer and Chris Newsome, Columbian guard Rashawn McCarthy, Rain or Shine's Raymond Almazan, Ginebra's Kevin Ferrer, and NLEX big man JR Quiñahan.

The win, Alaska's third in four matches, forced a three-way tie for the second to fourth spots along with Meralco and TNT.

They are just half a game behind Rain or Shine, which leads the league with a 4-1 win-loss slate.

Alaska now takes a six-day break before returning to action on Saturday when it flies to Dumaguete City to face defending champion San Miguel Beer.

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