Alaska seeks 3-1 Finals buffer vs SMB

CALVIN Abueva (right) has given Alaska an edge with his hustle and defensive ferocity in the Finals series against San Miguel. In photo, Abueva harasses David Semerad in Game 3 at the Big Dome. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Alaska shoots for a commanding 3-1 lead over San Miguel Beer today, with the Aces not expecting to depart from the things that they have done thus far in their best-of-seven title showdown with the Beermen for the PBA Philippine Cup.

Game time is 7 p.m. at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao with Alaska having all the confidence in the world that it can continue to shut down 6-foot-10 San Miguel cornerstone June Mar Fajardo and the Beermen when it truly matters.

So impressive was the Alaska defense on Sunday night during a 78-70 come-from-behind win in Game 3 that it left San Miguel coach Leo Austria blaming his players for failing to follow instructions.

This will be a make-or-break game for the Beermen as the series many thought they would dominate has taken a wicked turn as far as San Miguel is concerned.

In Game 3, San Miguel was held to just six points—and only one field goal—in the fourth quarter, as the Beermen blew an 18-point lead at the start of the period.

That latest loss had Austria blaming his players for veering away from the game plan of getting the ball to Fajardo, who had very limited touches in the fourth period.

And when the reigning MVP did get his touches inside, a consistent triple team met him that forced him to cough the ball up. San Miguel committed six turnovers in the fourth quarter alone on Sunday.

The Alaska defense has done so much damage on the psyche of San Miguel, winning three of four overall meetings this conference and holding the Beermen to an average of 74 points in those triumphs.

Austria will have to not only make adjustments for tonight, but also iron things out with his players, whom he practically accused of not following his instructions when Alaska was mounting its comeback from 21 points down in the third period.

Alaska is seeking to win an all-Filipino crown for the first time since the 2000 season, while San Miguel, the league’s oldest franchise, has a drought that is just a year shorter.