MANILA, Philippines - Alaska Milk and San Miguel Beer, aided by an NLEX upset win over Rain or Shine, gained the two outright Final Four berths in the Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.
The Aces dominated inside the paint in clobbering the Barako Bull Energy, 108-100, then watched the E-Painters fumble a key game versus the Road Warriors as Alaska secured the playoff top seeding.
The Beermen, the defending champs, clinched the second seed with the same elims closing record as the Aces (9-2) but with an inferior quotient.
Rain or Shine was relegated to third spot, needing to go through the tough two-phase quarterfinals stage after blowing away a vital match with NLEX.
The Road Warriors, banking on Sean Anthony’s explosive 37-point game, frustrated the Elasto Painters, 111-106, in this Petron Blaze Saturday Special.
“I’ve never in my life been a bigger fan of NLEX than I am right now. I love these guys,” said coach Alex Compton whose Aces were the biggest beneficiary of NLEX’s win.
NLEX finished with a 5-6 win-loss card, still outside the Magic Six which rewards a twice-to-beat incentive in the first stage of the quarters.
Meanwhile, Blackwater and Mahindra dispute the last playoff berth in a do-or-die match at the end of the elims play today at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.
The other match pits Barangay Ginebra against Talk n Text in a mere fight for position in the Top Six.
Behind Calvin Abueva, Vic Manuel and Sonny Thoss, the Aces dealt the Energy much beating at the paint, 44-30, while also enjoying a 17-14 edge on fastbreak points.
Abueva produced 22 points and 13 rebounds for his fifth double-double game in the season while Manuel contributed 21 markers and seven board and Thoss added 11 points, six rebounds and three assists.
Gunners RJ Jazul, Cyrus Baguio, Jvee Casio, Dondon Hontiveros and Chris Banchero combined for 46 points, lessening the impact of Barako’s 13 three-pointers courtesy of Josh Urbiztondo, JC Intal, Eman Mofort, Mick Pennisi, Jeric Fortuna and Chico Lanete.
The Aces hit great strides in the middle quarters, wiping out a seven-point deficit at the start of the second quarter as they established a 12-point lead, 82-70, at the end of the third.
The Energy actually twice came to within two entering the last four minutes of the game before Manuel, Abueva and Jazul buckled down to work again, teaming up in a run that opened another double-digit spread for Alaska at 105-95.
Willy Wilson led the losing team with 23 points and 14 rebounds.
Then came NLEX’s shocker versus Rain or Shine.
Anthony highlighted his season-best performance with a huge five-point binge in the last 21 seconds. The Fil-Am forward actually scored all of NLEX’s last eight points in the final two minutes.