Jul 22, 2018

San Miguel gets job done, makes it to finals



San Miguel Beer just won't be stopped from marching to a seventh PBA Finals in 11 conferences.

The Beermen showed their resilience and toughness as a champion team to endure a grind-out battle, fending off the Alaska Milk Aces, 104-99, to nail the first berth in the PBA Commissioner's Cup best-of-seven title playoff at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday night.

The usual suspects came through for the Beermen as they eventually delivered the knockout blow on the Aces, and lined them up for a shot at a possible second jewel of a possible grand slam.

It could well be a sixth finale between San Miguel and Barangay Ginebra or a first ever title showdown between the Beermen and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

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Ginebra takes its first of two cracks at wrapping up its own semis series with Rain or Shine at 7 p.m. Monday, also at the Big Dome.

The Aces refused to give up but neither the Beermen yielded as SMB went on to win their best-of-five semis playoff in four games.

San Miguel won the series opener, 92-79, and the next one, 105-94, before Alaska pulled one in Game Three, 125-104.

June Mar Fajardo and Renaldo Balkman both churned out double-double games while Chris Ross drained four three-pointers and a total of 17 markers as San Miguel clinched a 40th finale overall, with a shot at a 26th championship.

Alaska, meanwhile, remained without a crown since winning its last title in the 2013 Commissioner's Cup.

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The Beermen made it four-of-four in playoff face-offs with the Aces.

Fajardo came through with 26 points and 12 rebounds while Balkman piled up 23 markers and 16 boards, but the Beermen still went through a wringer versus the gritty Alaska team.

The two teams engaged in a virtual dogfight where no side enjoyed a commanding spread.

No team led by more than five in the first half.(SB)

The scores:

San Miguel 104 - Fajardo 26, Balkman 23, Cabagnot 18, Ross 17, Lassiter 8, Nabong 6, Santos 4, Standhardinger 2, Heruela 0.

Alaska 99 - Simpson 24, Manuel 20, Enciso 19, Casio 15, Teng 6, Racal 4, Exciminiano 4, Magat 3, Thoss 2, Baclao 2, Cruz 0, Galliguez 0.

Quarters: 20-23, 43-44, 76-69, 104-99.