Beermen out to purge ghost of ’12 fiasco

MANILA, Philippines - San Miguel Beer hopes to erase the stigma of its finals fold-up last year as it tries to wrap up the Asean Basketball League (ABL) crown against Indonesia via sweep tomorrow in Jakarta.

The Beermen took the series’ opener (the a best-of-three affair) last season but lost the second game in the Warriors’ turf at the Mahaka Square and eventually the crown with a setback at home.

With a commanding 2-0 lead in this year’s best-of-five playoff, coach Leo Austria expects his wards to play with the killer’s instinct for the clincher.

Gametime is at 8 p.m.

“Of course, we’re confident we can beat them but we don’t want to be complacent. We have our lessons to learn from last year,” said Austria, who served as an assistant to the late Bobby Parks in that failed title drive last year.

Back then, the top-seeded Beermen won the opener and looked poised to wrap it all up in Jakarta but fell to the resilient Warriors in Game Two. The Beermen eventually bowed to the Warriors in the deciding third game at home.

Last Sunday, the Beermen, led by MVP Asi Taulava and Brian Williams, pulled off a thrilling 66-65 escape act in Game Two at Ynares Sports Arena to seize a two-game lead. Tomorrow, Philippine Independence Day, the Beermen look to bring the title back to the country via a sweep.

“This is a great opportunity we’re presented. It’s up to us to pounce on it and realize our goals,” said Austria, the reigning ABL Coach of the Year.

Warriors coach Todd Purves said it’s not over yet. 

“We just have to go back to Jakarta and take care of our business,” said the American mentor, whose crew is looking to win both Games Three and Four at home to force a decider in the Phl. “I hope I’ll make one more trip back to Manila before the season ends.”