Alaska finally gets it done on Miller Time

MANILA, Philippines - Willie Miller came off the bench to fire Alaska’s last nine points, including the marginal basket, as the Aces snatched a thrilling 95-84 victory over Rain or Shine to finally clinch an outright semifinal berth in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo last night.

Sol Mercado erupted for a career-high 35 points for the Elasto Painters but Miller had the last laugh in their explosive confrontation as the two-time MVP winner carried the Aces through with his endgame brilliance.

Miller finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds and knocked in the game-winning basket on an eight-foot bank shot with time down to 12 seconds.

The Elasto Painters went to Mercado in their last possession but the 5-foot-11 guard failed to deliver, fumbling the ball in the face of the Aces’ tenacious defense.

The Aces thus checked a two-game losing skein and closed out their elims campaign with a 13-5 win-loss card to join the San Miguel Beermen in the semis round.

The Elasto Painters lost their last four games and wound up ninth place with a poor 4-14 record in the elimination round.

Rain or Shine plays either Purefoods, Talk n Text or Sta. Lucia Realty in the first phase of the wild card plays tomorrow at the same venue.

“We put behind us the outcome of our last two games. We told ourselves that all we need is to win this game and we gain the same result of outright semis passage,” said Miller.

“Willie really stepped up down the stretch. I saw we couldn’t get through sudden pressure. We came out tentative and soft. I softened up on the boys a little bit and partly that was my fault,” said Alaska coach Tim Cone.

“But the monkey’s off our back now. We can learn from that lesson. We’ll practice hard, step up a lot more and go back at being the real Alaska team. The battle cry (in the semis) is to get better,” Cone added.

With hardly a pressure playing a non-bearing game, the Elasto Painters played loose and pushed the Aces to the limit.

Mercado scored in bunches to improve his previous career-best of 29 only to lost steam when it mattered most.

Miller, on the other hand, came through with the game on the line.

The beefy Alaska guard scored back-to-back baskets on penetrations as the Aces took a 93-89 lead entering the final minute.

But Rain or Shine fought back and seized the lead for the last time at 94-93 on a three-pointer by Mercado and a short jumper by JayR Reyes.