MANILA: Alaska and San Miguel will celebrate the coming holidays feeling a bit different.
The Aces saw a five-game winning streak snapped last night, and the Beermen earned a virtual tie for the Philippine Cup lead after both squads came off contrasting fortunes at the Araneta Coliseum.
Coca-Cola 105-92 surprisingly whipped Alaska, just hours before San Miguel did everything right in the crunch to hammer out a 91-86 victory over sister squad Barangay Ginebra in overtime.
The Beermen ended their 2009 stint on a winning note and improved to 12-3 overall, which is practically the same record that the Aces now tote, 11-2 as both get much-needed breathers before returning to action early next year.
Coca-Cola, incidentally, picked up its second straight win and gained the inside track on the final wildcard phase slot, rising to 3-11 in the process to move a full game ahead of the cellar-dwelling Barako Bull Energy Boosters.
More importantly, the improved showing of the Tigers put them within half-a-game of the eighth-running Rain or Shine Elasto Painters for better ranking in the wildcard, hence, a weaker opponent. So off-form were the Aces that they trailed by 30 points at one stage in the second half, quite strange for a team that has been virtually unstoppable all tournament long and which ripped Coca-Cola apart in the first round.
“The determination came from our desire to compete. It’s not exactly a desire to win but a desire to be together in fighting for the game,” said Coca-Cola coach Bo Perasol. “It helped that Alaska was coming off two good games.
“We know that if they play really well, we don’t have a chance.”
Coca-Cola gunslinger Mark Macapagal tossed in 17 of his 19 points in the first half on near-impeccable shooting and helped set the tables up for the rout.
Playing in his third game after returning from a severe foot injury, Asi Taulava hit 18 points and had 12 rebounds while Dennis Espino was also solid with 18 points and eight boards coming off the bench.
Marvin Cruz and Larry Rodriguez also got away with double-digit outputs for the Tigers, who avenged a 79-100 defeat in the first round.
Willie Miller paced the Aces with 17 points but got practically little help.
Jonas Villanueva, Dorian Pena and Arwind Santos delivered at the crunch as the Beermen also scored payback. San Miguel lost to Ginebra in the first round, 86-98, its last loss before going undefeated in its next nine games.
“It’s a good feeling we got through this game and we ended the year on a winning note,” said San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen.
Ginebra, which had a chance to win the game in regulation only for Cyrus Baguio to miss on a one-handed jumper at the buzzer, dropped to joint fourth with Purefoods at 8-6.
Idle Talk ‘N Text, the defending champion, is at 9-5.
Villanueva, who has slowly matured to become the heir apparent of Olsen Racela to tend the backcourt of San Miguel, forged extension at 81 after zipping past two defenders for a lay-up with 6.7 seconds left.
He went on to topscore for San Miguel with 17 points, with Santos and Mike Cortez chipping in 14 apiece.
San Miguel, since that loss to Ginebra, has now won 12 of its last 13 games, and Tanquingcen finally acknowledged that the key to it all has been his all-star roster.
“We’re now enjoying our good mix of talented veterans and young recruits,” said Tanquingcen. “Different people are exploding for the team and it’s really a good sign for us.”
Ronald Tubid led all shooters for the night with 21 points built around five three-pointers.
