Compton left with more questions with Beermen up 2-0 vs Aces
Coach Alex Compton. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
The puzzle that Rain or Shine couldn’t solve in the semifinals is now Alaska’s problem in the Finals.
The Aces got blown out by 30 points in Game 1 and they came into the game on Sunday hoping that a day in between the first two games of the championship series was enough time for them to find some answers.
But after a 103-95 loss on Sunday night, Alaska faced more questions heading into Game 3.
READ: San Miguel snatches Game 2 from Alaska, takes 2-0 lead
Aces head coach Alex Compton wondered how many points did the Beermen score and how much time did it take for them to score that many. Upon learning that San Miguel unleashed 25 points in the last six minutes and 42 seconds, Compton was left in awe.
“They should get more weapons over there. Mahina, walang threat (They’re weak and they have no threat),” Compton joked.
“This is what causes me sleepless nights,” he added after his team blew an 87-78 lead with seven minutes left.
The Beermen won Game 1 without trailing and this time, they won a dogfight with both teams refusing to give an inch in the second half. San Miguel did it with its unpredictable offense. The guards were making outside shots at a deadly rate and the bigs were scoring inside.
READ: San Miguel clobbers Alaska by 30 points in PBA finals opener
“The dilemma I think that us coaches have when playing San Miguel is Cabagnot, a great point guard made 3-of-6 from the three, Chris Ross, not known as a shooter but went 2-of-2 from the three, Chris Lutz 1-for-2, Marcio 5-for-10, AZ 4-for-11, and another is dilemma is we have is the most dominant player in the game June Mar Fajardo requires attention,” Compton said.
“I don’t imagine if there was a single soul that think he (Fajardo) did not deserve the Best Player of the Conference award. He’s great. AZ is an incredible scorer obviously he’s won the Best Import twice deservedly so. So you got those guys, it’s a nice combination. It causes us problems,” Compton added.
READ: Fajardo named Best Player of PBA Governors’ Cup
Arizona Reid, on a night where many would think he deserved to collect his third Best Import award but didn’t, was a man on a mission with 37 points, seven assists and five steals. Marcio Lassiter, who has been on a shooting spree in these playoffs, added 17 points on five 3-pointers including the go-ahead basket with exactly a minute left that put the Beermen on top for good, while June Mar Fajardo recorded a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds after receiving his third Best Player of the Conference award.
“It’s really challenging with all the threats that they have. I really thought we generally played Alaska basketball most of the game, we’re grinding it out, came back and doing a lot of good things and then they just exploded for 25 points in six minutes and that’s a problem.”
The Elasto Painters had no answer for The Beermen’s hot shooting in the semifinals and the Aces have two days from now to Wednesday’s Game 3 to figure it out.
But until then, it will be one of those nights for Compton.
“When I’m up at 4 a.m., I’m calling you,” he told a reporter. CFC
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