Inspired Aces eye 2-0 today

HOUNDED all night long by Alaska’s defense, San Miguel Beer slotman June Mar Fajardo (center) lapses into yet another turnover. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

After taking a 1-0 lead following a comeback for the ages on Wednesday night, Alaska tries to pull away from San Miguel Beer today in Game 2 of their best-of-seven championship showdown for the PBA Philippine Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

With momentum on their side following an 88-82 overtime victory that saw the Aces rally from 22 points down in the first quarter, Alaska is listed as the prohibitive pick against the Beermen in the 7 p.m. contest.

After scoring 27 points and holding the enemy to 5 in the first quarter, the Beermen were held to a measly 55 in the next three periods and the extra time and went down in flames for the second time in the tournament to the Aces.

In the eliminations, the Alaska defense was also in full display in a 66-63 victory, giving up the fewest points that San Miguel scored in this tournament. That loss was one of just two the Beermen absorbed in topping the round.

Alaska refused to give up despite being down big early, getting the lift it needed from workhorse Calvin Abueva, who singlehandedly willed the Aces to fight back.

“That’s what I love about these guys (Aces), they just kept chipping away and chipping away,” Alaska coach Alex Compton said.

It was the third remarkable come-from-behind triumph for the Aces in the playoffs, counting two against Rain or Shine in the Final Four where Alaska erased a 17-point second-quarter deficit to win Game 1.

They also climbed out of a 19-point hole in the second quarter to triumph in Game 5 before eventually outsteadying the Elasto Painters to reach the title series with a 4-2 win.

Abueva posted 22 points and 10 rebounds, getting the better of his matchup with former MVP Arwind Santos who shot 12 points.

June Mar Fajardo, the 6-foot-10 San Miguel cornerstone, was already fagged out when the game was on the line. He managed 14 points which went with 17 boards.

The Aces’ unforgiving defense forced the Beermen to 26 turnovers for the game.