San Miguel routs Alaska, ties Finals series at 2-2

Alex Cabagnot (SMB). PBA IMAGE

MANILA, Philippines — After blowing 20-point leads in Games 1 and 3, San Miguel Beer made sure there won’t be another meltdown with an 88-70 win to level their 2015 PBA Philippine Cup championship duel at 2-2 on Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Alex Cabagnot had a breakout game with 22 points to give the Beermen, who led by as much as 29 points early in the third quarter and was never really threatened, a much-needed boost.

“I was playing subpar the past three games and my shots just went in,” said Cabagnot, who was a starter after coming off the bench in the first three games. “I was shooting those shots in Game 1 and Game 3 and today it went in. I hope I continue to hit those.”

The veteran playmaker has been the missing link for the Beermen before this game. He hit four 3-pointers with each one burying the Aces deeper.

Cabagnot sank a 3-pointer late in the second quarter to give San Miguel a 45-26 lead before knocking down another one early in the third period that made it, 53-26.

Doug Kramer teamed up with Chris Lutz on a screen-and-roll for a 55-26 Beermen advantage.

Alaska came back from a 21-point deficit in Game 3 and a 22-point hole in Game 1 so winning in come-from-behind fashion is not something new to the Aces.

But not tonight.

Calvin Abueva tried to will Alaska back into the game but he couldn’t get enough help. The Aces trimmed the Beermen’s lead down to 17, 77-60, on a basket by Abueva with 7:25 left but that was the closest they got.

Arwind Santos nailed a deep triple on the other end and the series is now down to a best-of-three with the pivotal Game 5 set on Friday night also at the Big Dome.

“I think we have already learned from our mistakes,” said SMB coach Leo Austria.

San Miguel Beer went on another early surge and took a 33-16 lead at the end of the first quarter behind Cabagnot’s eight points, already more than his 6.7 points per game average in the first three games of the Finals.

San Miguel Beer center June Mar Fajardo, who was named Best Player of the Conference before tip off, came in averaging exactly 40 minutes per game in the Finals. He played just close to 28 minutes here in Game 4 and still came away with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Ronald Tubid added 13 for the Beermen, who manhandled the Aces in the rebounding department, 53-35, while Santos posted 11 points and 14 rebounds.

Abueva, who came in second in the BPC race, was the lone Alaska player to hit double figures in scoring with 22.

Fourth-year player JVee Casio, Alaska’s starting guard, was held scoreless for the first time in his career. He played 19 minutes and took just two attempts from the field.