Chris Banchero (Alaska) vs Arwind Santos (SMB). PBA IMAGE
MANILA, Philippines — After coming back from an early 22-point deficit to win Game 1 in overtime, the Aces topped themselves again on Sunday night.
Alaska rallied from 21 points down late to beat San Miguel Beer, 78-70, in Game 3 for a 2-1 series edge in the 2015 PBA Philippine Cup Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“I have no idea. I really have no idea,” said Alaska head coach Alex Compton, who was at a loss for words when asked how his team was able to come back from huge leads.
“At some point in the third quarter I told coach Louie, ‘they were just really beating us. We got to change things up,'” Compton said. “They were really beating us. They were playing great. They had a really good game plan. They looked sharp.”
The Aces were really taking a good beating in the third quarter where they trailed, 61-40, with 2:10 left and entered the fourth period behind by 18, 64-46. But just like in Game 1, they were far from beaten.
“We just felt and I told the guys kailangan ibuhos na natin lahat ng energy natin the first six minutes (we need to give all our energy),” Compton added. “We just need our energy. And they did much better than that. I’m completely not a genius and I didn’t do anything magical. The guys just played hard.”
“Everything starts with our defense. I thought our defensive intensity in the fourth quarter was just incredible,” Compton commended.
After allowing 27 and 29 points in the second and third quarter, respectively, Alaska tightened its defensive screws and held San Miguel Beer to just six points in the final frame — the Beermen’s fewest points in the fourth quarter ever.
“[The] guys not giving up and everybody coming in with a defensive mindset,” said Alaska center Sonny Thoss, who scored eight of his 10 points in the fourth quarter.
Calvin Abueva had another all-around performance with 16 points, 15 rebounds and five assists for the Aces, who limited the Beermen to just 1-of-15 shooting from the field in the fourth quarter.
Hardworking guard Ping Exciminiano was also a spark on both ends for the Aces. He gave his team its first lead since early in the second quarter, 66-65, on two free throws with 4:57 left.
The game was still tied at 68 after Alex Cabagnot scored the Beermen’s lone field goal in the fourth quarter with 4:04 remaining before the Aces closed the game on a 10-2 run with Thoss’ shot-clock beating jumper and JVee Casio’s free throws sealed the win inside the final minute.
Arwind Santos had 20 points through three quarters but was scoreless when it mattered.
Game 4 is on Wednesday night also at the Big Dome.