Joe Devance vs Rob Dozier and JV Casio. Nuki Sabio/PBA
MANILA, Philippines — Alaska hasn’t beaten San Mig Coffee in nine straight tries.
But that was before the Aces won three straight in the best-of-five semifinals series to dethrone the defending 2013 PBA Commissioner’s Cup champion Mixers.
Alaska nipped San Mig Coffee, 83-78, in game four on Saturday to advance to the finals for the first since since 2010 Fiesta Conference, which was under the coach it defeated now.
“It was nice to beat the guy you look up to,” said head coach Luigi Trillo of scoring one over Tim Cone, who was at helm at Alaska for more than two decades.
The Aces, after taking a beating in the second quarter, came out with a whole level of energy in the second half and evened the playing field.
They were down by 15 after San Mig Coffee went on a crippling 19-0 run to cap the first half, but with 7:39 left to play, the game was tied at 69 on a triple by Calvin Abueva.
Abueva, the rookie who has a lion’s share in the franchise’s turnaround, finished with 14 points – all but two coming in the fourth quarter.
Abueva made another trey with 3:51 to play to give the Aces a 76-63 lead, and they never trailed anew – even in such a tight match – from there.
Import Rob Dozier was a non-factor all game, missing his first eight shots and contributing just a point in the first three quarters.
Until he made his first field goal, a triple and a first for him in the playoffs, which put them up, 80-76, with just a little over two minutes left.
“I’m proud of Rob. He was playing with a sprained ankle but he found ways to grind it out,” said Trillo.
Denzel Bowles, who will not have a chance to help San Mig Coffee retain the title they won together last year, nailed a jumper to pull the Mixers within two in the ensuing possession.
But San Mig Coffee missed all of its attempts from them on as Bowles, Mark Barroca and Joe Devance all misfired in the last minute.
Bowles finished with 23 points for San Mig Coffee, while Devance and Barroca had 18 and 14, respectively.