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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
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04
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18
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2024
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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
04
18
2024
Arizona Reid thoroughly dominated Romeo Travis yet again and San Miguel Beer once again whipped Alaska Milk at the finish, carving out a 96-89 victory for a huge 3-0 lead in the PBA Governors Cup Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.
Reid matched his personal season-best of 41 points, capped by 11 markers that fuelled San Miguel’s decisive romp from 78-83 down en route to the victory that gave the Beermen an advantage no team has blown away in PBA finals.
A 3-0 lead in PBA best-of-seven finale has been recorded 11 times in the past. The previous teams to get the mammoth advantage all went on to win the crown – four via sweep, six in five games and one in six.
The Beermen, however, aren’t about to celebrate.
“We all know it takes four wins to win this series. Masyado nang napakaliit ng porsyento para makuha nila ito, pero hindi kami hihintong maglaro hanggang hindi tapos ang series,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria.
“We won’t think about our chance to sweep them. We’ll still threat each game as a do-or-die game,” Austria also said.
The Aces, meanwhile, aren’t about to quit.
“There’s the first man who walked in the moon. There’s somebody that will be first on everything,” said Alaska coach Alex Compton.
“We’ll be there playing. If San Miguel is to win the series, they have to earn it,” Compton also said.
Reid exploded for a 17-of-26 clip and also came up with 12 rebounds and three assists, June Mar Fajardo came through with 19 rebounds and 14 points, and Alex Cabagnot added 13 markers including key charities in the end game as the Beermen fended off the Aces’ tough challenge in the contest.
“Naghanda ng husto ang Alaska for this game. They forced us to a lot of turnovers but our guys refused to lose. Sila ang lahat na nagtrabaho ng panalong ito,” said Austria.
Austria made special mention of Arwind Santos who chased Jvee Casio on a fastbreak play and swatted away the Alaska guard’s layup with SMB protecting a precarious lead entering the last two minutes of the game.
“For me, that’s the biggest turning point of the ball game. At ipinakita doon ni Arwind ang character niya. He didn’t want to lose,” said Austria.
The Aces put themselves in a good position to win but, as in Game Two, faltered in the closing minutes.
Travis top scored for the Aces with 17 points but went scoreless in the payoff period. He was 0-of-6 from the field in the closing quarter.
With their defense working, the Aces led by four, 52-48, at the half.
Alaska came through with five steals and forced San Miguel to a total of 13 errors as the Aces took control most of the first half despite 22 points by Reid.
The San Miguel import sizzled with 10-of-16 from the field but no other Beerman scored more than six points in the first 24 minutes of play.
Sonny Thoss, Calvin Abueva and Travis paced the Aces with at least eight markers each in the opening half.
The Aces continued to show the way until Reid and the Beermen unleashed a 10-to-nothing run to race ahead at 91-85. (SB)
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