Alaska in virtual do-or-die as San Miguel seeks 3-0 cushion
Just how will Alaska Milk be able to stop San Miguel Beer?
That’s the million-peso question with the Beermen in the zone and looking fancied to make it three in a row versus the embattled Aces at the resumption of their PBA Governors Cup best-of-seven finals at the Smart Araneta ColiseumWednesday.
Just the way they dominated the field all tournament long, the Beermen roared to a commanding 2-0 series lead on Junemar Fajardo’s unstoppable inside incursions and the explosive shooting of their gunners.
On Sunday night, Alaska coach Alex Compton left the playing venue wondering if they could stop the Beermen with all their lethal weapons.
The Beermen tore the Aces to pieces, 108-78, in Game One then leaned on a swashbuckling finish to take Game Two, 103-95.
“It’s really challenging with all the threats that they’ve got,” said Compton.
Interesting is how will the two teams come back from a two-day respite.
Game Three is set at 7 p.m. Wednesday with the Beermen out to push the Aces in a hole no team has ever survived.
“Two-zero is not a safe lead. Pero ang three-zero, iba na yan. Pag ikaw ang zero, mahirap ng mag-isip at mahirap ng huminga nyan,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria.
“I’m sure they feel the same, so they will do everything to avoid falling 0-3. So, Game Three will be a different ball game,” Austria added.
Of course, Austria feels a little comfortable with their two-game advantage and, finally, a first rest of over 24 hours in the postseason play.
“From the quarterfinals, hindi kami nakapag-break ng two days. A day rest is important for us. What more two days,” Austria said.
The Beermen aren’t expected to veer away from what they’ve been doing.
“From offseason, yun na yung ginagawa namin. Mukhang nahihirapan ang Alaska because we have Junemar (Fajardo) at the post, AZ (Reid) at midpost, then we have our outside gunners,” said Austria.
Compton admitted it causes him sleepless nights.
“That’s the dilemma us coaches have to deal with when we play San Miguel,” Compton pointed out.
“(Alex) Cabagnot is a great point guard, (going) 3-of-6 from the three-point line. Chris Ross is not known as a shooter but he’s 2-of-2 from the three. Chris Lutz is 1-for-2, Marcio (Lassiter) is 5-for-10, and AZ (Reid) is 4-for-11. The dilemma we have is the most dominant player in the game Junemar Fajardo requires attention. So you got those guys, it’s a nice combination and it causes us problems,” Compton said after Game Two.
Just how one will neutralize San Miguel’s double-barreled game? (SB)
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