Protecting top pair, or Pot Control

[Checkov]

I posted this on a lower level (micro) but I thought players playing higher limits could also help me as well.

(reconstructed from memory, sorry I had hand history off for some reason)

Went something like:

.25/.50 nl Full Tilt

LB ($40)
BB ($30)
UTG ($50)
UTG +1 ($30)
Hero ($50)
Villain ($60)

No reads on Villain.

Hero hand: Ah, Ac

UTG limps
UTG+1 limps
Hero raise to $2.50
Villain calls $2.50
LB folds
BB folds
UTG calls $2.00 more
UTG +1 calls $2.00 more
Pot $10.75

Flop
3s, 8s, Th

UTG checks
UTG +1 checks
Hero bets $8
Villain calls $8
UTG folds
UTG +1 folds
POT is $16.75

Now Hero and Villian are heads up.

Turn
3s, 8s, Th, 2c

Hero bets $11
Villian pushes all in.

I have $28.50 remaining. Villain has me covered. I call.

Villain shows As,Ks, catches a spade on the river to win with nut flush.

Questions:

On the turn should I have checked for pot control? He might have checked, then value bet on the river when he caught his flush. If so, I could have made a decision on the river to fold to a straight or flush board thereby reducing my loses. But from his perspective on the turn, with two overcards and the nut draw flush he probably would have made a signficant bet on the turn if I checked, but then again I could have made a decision at that point. By the way I played this hand against an aggressive player, I am builing a pot which in most cases I'm not going to fold.

Of course this would apply if my opponent had actually had a hand like a set or two pair, but by keeping the pot manageable I can then reduce my losses but am I capitlizing on my wins - but are wins with top pair worth capitalizing on?

This is a dilemma I am constantly facing in cash games online. Protecting top pair or keeping the pot small to call or fold. Help.

[Maliant]

Move this to SS NL please.