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Aldrech Ramos put order in Star’s tentative finish on Saturday night, draining the dagger triple with 12.8 seconds remaining as the Hotshots held off San Miguel Beer, 109-105, in Game 1 of their Final Four series at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Hotshots almost blew a 13-point lead going into the final two minutes as they lapsed into miscues and needed Ramos to convert that triple from top of the key off a Paul Lee set-up as Star drew first blood in their best-of-five series.
“That’s why he’s there,” said Star coach Chito Victolero, referring to the game-sealing bucket. “That’s what I keep telling my players, for them to shoot when they’re open.”
Victolero is aware of what to expect on Game 2 set Monday at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
“They (Beermen) will keep fighting, they’re a champion team,” he said as he guns for the first Finals appearance of his young coaching career after falling just a win short against Barangay Ginebra in this season’s Philippine Cup.
“We (coaching staff) will review the game tape and see what we can still do,” he went on. “San Miguel will never give up.”
Ricardo Ratliffe scored 26 points and grabbed 22 rebounds before fouling out in the dying seconds while Allein Maliksi also fired 26.
Lee struggled against the San Miguel defense to finish with just four and eight assists.
Charles Rhodes had 34 points and reigning three-time MVP June Mar Fajardo had 24 for the Beermen, who beat the Hotshots in the eliminations, 103-97.