San Miguel Beer defeated the Alaska Aces in Game 2 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals with the final score at 100-86 and tied the best-of-seven finals series during a game held at the historic Smart Araneta Coliseum, in Cubao, Quezon City. The Beermen already learned from their mistake in Game 1 of the series wherein they were surprised with the tight defense of the Aces.
San Miguel’s Arwind Santos scored with 22 points on 9-of-16 field goal shooting while the reigning PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo scored with 15 points. The other Beermen who scored in double figures include Chris Lutz with 20 points, Chris Ross and David Semerad scored with 12 and 10 points respectively.
The San Miguel Beer victory over Alaska Aces in Game 2 reduced the series to the best-of-five championship showdown. Just like the Game 1 of the series at the start of the game, San Miguel immediately fired a 7-2 run in the first quarter and ended the first canto with at 32-28.
Both the San Miguel Beermen and the Alaska Aces played a more physical game on their second finals’ encounter, their rugged plays sparked a wrestling match between Dondon Hontiveros and San Miguel’s David Semerad, minutes later, Semerad got yanked in the neck after jostling for position against Alaska’s Vic Manuel.
The physical play took its toll on the Aces as the San Miguel Beermen surged ahead with a 19-4 run and unleashed a 17-point gap in the payoff period. Although JV Casio tried to bring Alaska back into the game, but the Beermen’s lead became farther.
The former Gilas Pilipinas team member JV Casio scored with 14 points while big man Sonny Thoss topscored with his team providing 16 points. Alaska’s Cyrus Baguio scored with 13 points while the game 1 hero Calvin Abueva just managed to score 11 points in Game 2 of the series.
Box scores:
San Miguel 100 — Santos 22, Lutz 20, Fajardo 15, Ross 12, Semerad 10, Lassiter 8, Cabagnot 7, Omolon 2, Pascual 2, Tubid 2, Kramer 0, Fortuna 0, Chua 0.
Alaska 86 — Thoss 16, Casio 14, Baguio 13, Abueva 11, Hontiveros 8, Banchero 7, Jazul 5, Menk 4, Dela Cruz 4, Eman 2, Manuel 2, Eximiniano 0.
Quarterscores: 32-28; 51-48; 72-70; 11-86
