Jay R. Gotera
Saudi Gazette
MANILA — The defending champions San Miguel Beermen are on the brink of making basketball history after beating the Alaska Aces for a third straight time, 100-89, Friday night in Game 6 of the best-of-seven PBA Philippine Cup Finals.
After being down 0-3, the Beermen are now in the best position to achieve what no other team in the league has ever done before if they grab win No. 4 in the do-or-die Game 7 set for Wednesday, Feb. 3.
As it is, SMB has already set a PBA milestone by becoming the first team in the league’s 41-year history to tie a best-of-seven series at 3-3 after being down by 0-3.
Unlike in their first two wins which went into overtime, the Beermen dominated the Aces in the fourth quarter after fighting them tooth and nail in the first three quarters.
Five Beermen scored in double digits led by Marcio Lassiter who collected 26 points, 17 of them in the decisive fourth quarter.
The comebacking June Mar Fajardo, playing only in his second Finals game and still not 100 percent fit to play after his recent knee injury, added 16 points and seven boards.
Yancy De Ocampo scored 14 points while Arwind Santos and Alex Cabagnot added 10 points apiece. Santos also grabbed a team-high 15 rebounds.
On Alaska’s side, Vic Manuel once again led his team, firing 21 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Calvin Abueva, who was whistled for a second straight technical foul resulting in his ejection late in the game, added 17 markers and nine boards. Calvin Abueva added 17 points and also nine boards, RJ Jazul and Jvee Casio added 13 and 11 markers, respectively.
SMB led by just a point at the end of the third quarter. But just like in their previous two wins, the Beermen went on a fourth quarter rampage with a 16-2 run that all but settled the contest even before it officially ended.
Fajardo and Lassiter scored eight points apiece in that decisive run which gave SMB an 83-67 lead with 7:46 left to play.
Casio drilled back-to-back three pointers, but the best the Aces could do was to cut SMB’s lead to eight points, 89-81.
But free throws from Lassiter and Santos doused the Alaska rally, boosting SMB’s lead back to 12 points with 1:15 remaining as the Beermen cruised to victory.
Game Wednesday (Feb. 3): San Miguel Beermen vs. Alaska Aces (Game 7 of best-of-seven Finals; series tied 3-3)
