Simpson, for the second straight night, did a lot of damage for Alaska before fouling out with 30 seconds left Sunday night, as the Aces hammered out a 94-90 victory over San Miguel for a commanding 2-0 Fiesta Conference title series lead at the Araneta Coliseum.

The wiry 22-year-old, who admitted to getting a boost of energy upon learning of the presence of Miami Heat coach Eric Spoelstra at ringside, hit 29 points, plucked down 17 boards and swatted away three enemy shots in another brilliant all-around display that carried the Aces.

And what many pundits predicted at the start to be a one-sided series in favor of San Miguel has turned the other way, with the Aces now having everything fall their way, especially the three-day break coming before Game 3 on Wednesday.

“I want a championship,” Simpson told reporters. “I am not worried about (losing) the (Best Import) award like everyone thinks I am.”

Simpson lost the Best Import trophy to San Miguel’s Gabriel Freeman before tipoff of Game 1, and Alaska’s ace simply vented his ire on the floor instead of sulking.

“Gabe has the resume to get the award as well,” Simpson continued. “I am disappointed individually, but I never let it affect my performance for the team.”

The lanky Alaska import, who joked that there were instances in the game when he looked at Spoelstra hoping that the Miami coach would be waving an NBA contract, hit four straight free throws that opened up a 91-88 lead for the Aces.

He fouled out in the San Miguel possession after that, readily giving up his final foul on a driving Freeman, which resulted in two free throws for Freeman as the Beermen pruned the gap to a point with 29.9 seconds to go.

But Tony Dela Cruz drained two charities of his own and Joe Devance then broke up the next San Miguel offensive by deflecting a pass by Jay Washington inside to Freeman, resulting in a Cyrus Baguio free throw that rounded out scoring.

“We didn’t expect this,” Alaska coach Tim Cone said when asked how he felt after gaining control of the best-of-seven series. “But you know, we have played two A-plus basketball games.”

LA Tenorio, despite being downed by diarrhea the whole of Saturday night, had just six points, five rebounds and four assists. But his last basket, a one-handed running jumper with 1:53 remaining, gave the Aces an 87-86 lead.

Cone said that Tenorio was going to be taken straight to the hospital after the game for some IV as the Aces take a three-day break after playing their 14th game in less than a month.

San Miguel actually trailed by 13 early in the first period but quickly got back in the game as the Beermen even took an 84-83 lead after the Aces went scoreless for almost six minutes in the middle part of the fourth period.

So composed were the Aces that a lesser team would have folded up because of that drought. But not Alaska, which has continued to dig deep in these playoffs to sustain its surprising run.

“The playoff series against Talk ‘N Text (in the semifinals) and against (Barangay) Ginebra (in the quarterfinals) has hardened us as a team,” Simpson continued. “We haven’t let anything distract us so far.”

Joseph Yeo went on to lead San Miguel with 20 points, but he was scoreless in the fourth period after shooting nine points in the third.

Those nine markers came from the three-point line inside the final two minutes of the third as the Beermen kept the game close only to sputter in the stretch.