Beermen hold off Aces, cut lead

MANILA, Philippines – San Miguel Beer got another lease on life as it drew firepower, inspiration and leadership from June Mar Fajardo who came back last night to power the Beermen to an 86-73 victory, again in overtime, to force a Game Six in the Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven title playoff at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Fajardo electrified the crowd just as he headed to the officials’ table towards the end of the first quarter.

The reigning back-to-back MVP went on to play a solid 16:29 minutes and his teammates took the cue as San Miguel again lived to fight another game, closing in on Alaska at 2-3.

“June Mar (Fajardo) inspired just everybody, the crowd and his teammates. We didn’t want to play him but he insisted to be back. He wanted to be back whether we win or lose,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria.

“All our guys don’t want to lose. Once again, they showed their champion’s heart,” Austria also said.

Alaska coach Alex Compton acknowledged San Miguel’s never-say-die stand but also pointed to the huge discrepancy in free throws – 35 for the Beermen as against five for the Aces.

“I’m just stating a fact. How can you win with that,” said Compton.

The two teams fought a great battle in regulation play then the Beermen pounced on the Aces’ sudden fold-up in the extra period.

The Beermen zoomed to a 78-67 lead before the Aces finally scored a first point in OT through a charity by Vic Manuel with 1:14 left to play.

Fajardo delivered 13 points on 4-of-5 field goals and 5-of-10 free throws in his comeback and also got four rebounds, making it easier for Arwind Santos  to deliver a team-high 22 markers and a game-high 16 rebounds.

Alex Cabagnot, Chris Ross, Marcio Lassiter and Gabby Espinas also played stellar roles as they foiled the Aces’ second crack at closing out the series.

“We now have a chance to force a Game Seven. That game would be anybody’s game,” said Austria.

The Aces had a shot at winning Game Five and the series, but Calvin Abueva missed an attempt inside the paint in the dying seconds.

Then they conked out in overtime, muffing their first eight field-goal attempts and committing an error before ending a crucial scoreless spell.

Alaska played catch-up basketball from a 2-0 count, getting a taste of the lead only at 50-49 on a three-pointer by RJ Jazul in the 3:03 mark of the third.

Jazul then banged in another triple and the Aces led by three at 55-52 going into the final canto.

Holding the Beermen scoreless in the last 4:10 minutes of the second quarter, the Aces waged their initial chase and forged a tie at 36-all at the turn.

The scores:

SAN MIGUEL 86 – Santos 22, Fajardo 13, Cabagnot 12, Lassiter 11, Espinas 8, Ross 8, Lutz 6, De Ocampo 4, Reyes 1, Tubid 1, Araña 0, Heruela 0.

ALASKA 73 – Manuel 25, Abueva 12, Banchero 10, Jazul 9, Thoss 4, Casio 3, Exciminiano 3, Hontiveros 3, Baguio 2, Menk 2, Baclao 0, Eman 0.

Quarterscores: 23-20, 36-36, 52-55, 67-67, 86-73