8 SUMMONED AS BEERMEN, ACES BREAK DEADLOCK
PBA commissioner Chito Salud has summoned no less than six players and two other individuals to appear in his office a few hours before Game Three, an indication how rugged and emotional the PBA Philippine Cup Finals has become.
The league chieftain is expected to make an effort to tone down tempers and avoid escalation of clashes into a full-blown fight.
Summoned are SMB players Arwind Santos, Ronald Tubid and David Semerad, Alaska Aces Calvin Abueva, Dondon Hontiveros and Vic Manuel, Aces assistant coach Louie Alas and an SMB ball boy.
But the volatile tone of the title series has been set, and it isn’t expected to subside as the two teams break their one-game-all standoff at the resumption of the best-of-seven Finals Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Nagsisimula pa lang ang laban. At gumaganda ang labanan,” said Santos, bloodied but ending up the biggest hero of the Beermen in their crucial 100-86 win in Game Two Friday night.
“Kung makulit siya, dapat mas makulit ako,” Santos also said, referring to his match-up with Abueva.
Abueva led the Aces to a come-from-behind 88-82 win in Game One, but Santos got even with his Alaska counterpart in Game Two.
The Beermen pummeled the Aces with their superior strength Friday night and, with the empathic victory, have reemerged as the series favorites.
“We won the first game but that doesn’t change the fact that we’re still the underdogs and they’re still the powerhouse,” Alaska coach Alex Compton said.
“We stole one, we gave ourselves a chance, but we’re still facing Goliath. I hope the fans find a reason to cheer for the little guy,” Compton also said.
Noting that they lost focus and eventually lost the game after hard clashes in Game Two, Compton said: “We’ve got to be smarter at that.”
Technically, the Aces have 48 hours to tinker with their ploy after the Beermen made the right adjustments and exposed holes on Alaska’s vaunted defense.
The Beermen won the game in runaway fashion as they ran a good play against Alaska’s press, dominated the boards, 52-30, and found a way to get the ball to June Mar Fajardo.
“A big key was Alaska not able to double on June Mar,” said SMB coach Leo Austria, pointing out they made a simple adjustment that worked well.
“Simpleng play lang para madaling maintindihan ng mga players. We would need some time if we design a new play,” Austria said.
San Miguel delivered a solid finish that was nowhere to be found in Game One, battering Alaska on both ends of the court in the crunch as the Beermen got back at the Aces.
It was a game fraught with action and drama, and the Beermen prevailed by summoning the needed grit, guts and effort.
The Beermen didn’t exactly stay calm but stayed composed through a highly physical and highly emotional game where blood spilled and bodies sprawled on the floor on hard fouls.
Santos best typified the kind of performance put up by SMB as the 2013 MVP awardee fought bravely specially after drawing a nasty cut on his forehead on a wayward elbow by Abueva in the third quarter, coming through with a game-high 22 points on top of four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Many cheap shots were made and at least three double-fouls were called.
Thus, the league commissioner wants his voice heard before Game Three. (SB)
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