MO CHARLO (middle) of Rain or Shine goes hard to the basket against the double team of Mahindra’s Aldrech Ramos (left) and Karl Dahesa. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
SAN Miguel Beer versus Alaska, at least the latest episode in this brewing saga, still had the same twist, plot and ending.
Even with June Mar Fajardo sidelined together with three others, the Beermen still went on to destroy the Aces, 116-96, to move closer to the top of the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup standings at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
San Miguel hit shots from inside and out and choked the Aces on the defensive end for its most impressive victory in the conference thus far that also snapped Alaska’s tournament-best five-game winning streak.
In rising to 4-2 overall, the Beermen got 32 points and 14 rebounds from import Tyler Wilkerson and San Miguel drained a total of 17 triples.
Alaska lost its grip on the solo lead and dropped into a tie with idle Meralco at 5-2, never recovering from a San Miguel blitzkrieg halfway through the second period that had the Beermen taking a 55-42 lead at the break.
“We were not expecting to play like this,” San Miguel coach Leo Austria said after winning a fifth straight game against the Aces dating back to the final four games of the Philippine Cup Finals that established a record as far as comebacks are concerned.
“Everyone has been afraid of them (Aces), because of their pressing defense,” Austria went on. “And because of our fear of them, we prepared very hard for this game.”
In the first game, Jeff Chan scored 14 points in the fourth quarter and Jericho Cruz had 16 in the second half to help Rain or Shine fend off Mahindra, 103-98.
Chan bucked a bruised left eye to come up with the big shots in the stretch, while Cruz’ 10 points in the third kept the Elasto Painters in the fight after Rain or Shine lost coach Yeng Guiao to two technical fouls with 1:33 left in the second period.
JR Quiñahan paced the Painters with 19 points as Mo Charlo shot just 16 after taking a total of only 12 attempts from the field in a 38-minute stint.
The scores:
First Game
RAIN OR SHINE 103—Quiñahan 19, Chan 18, Cruz 18, Charlo 16, Almazan 7, Norwood 5, Ponferada 5, Teng 4, Ahanmisi 3, Belga 2, Ibanes 2, Lee 2, Trollano 2, Tiu 0, Nimes 0.
MAHINDRA 98—Gilchrist 28, Revilla 20, Canaleta 11, Yee 10, Dehesa 9, Jaime 8, Digregorio 5, Ramos 5, Guinto 2, Elorde 0, Pascual 0, Pinto 0.
Quarters: 24-16, 49-48, 70-70, 103-98
Second Game
SAN MIGUEL 116—Wilkerson 32, Cabagnot 22, Santos 18, Lassiter 14, Ross 14, Espinas 10, Reyes 6, Lutz 0, Mabulac 0, Omolon 0, Semerad 0.
ALASKA 96—Edwards 15, Exciminiano 15, Manuel 13, Abueva 12, Banchero 12, Thoss 11, Dela Rosa 8, Jazul 6, Baguio 2, Hontiveros 2, Dela Cruz 0, Menk 0.
Quarters: 25-18, 55-42, 80-66, 116-96