MANILA: Game 2 was a virtual replay of the series opener, only this time, it was much scarier for Alaska and more painful for San Miguel Beer.

The Aces again got more than what they bargained for from the depleted Beermen on Tuesday night before taking an 83-80 victory a 2-0 lead in their PBA Philippine Cup title series at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

Unlike in Game 1 when the Aces pulled away in the last three minutes, this one wasn’t decided until the final horn sounded as Alaska maintained its mastery of San Miguel by beating the Beermen for the third time this season.

Vic Manuel hit two free throws with 1.7 seconds remaining off Arwind Santos’ final foul, and then disrupted the next San Miguel inbounds that left the Beermen with very little time to launch the game-tying three-pointer by Alex Cabagnot.

Manuel finished with 18 points and again led the Aces in scoring, but the things he did in the defensive end in the waning seconds were hands-down, the highlight of his night.

The 6-foot-4 power forward rejected a short stab by the 6-foot-9 Yancy de Ocampo that preserved an 81-80 Alaska lead, before he made those two charities.

“How about Vic’s guts, making those two free throws?” Alaska coach Alex Compton asked in praise of Manuel.

“We’re really glad to win that one, that’s for sure,” Compton continued after he moved within two more victories of capturing Alaska’s 15th overall title and his first after two previous failed bids against this same San Miguel team last season.

“There were some hairy moments out there. I hope the fans enjoyed them, because I certainly didn’t.”

San Miguel fought with a lot of heart despite missing the services of two-time reigning MVP June Mar Fajardo for the second straight night.

The defending champion Beermen had four golden chances to take the upperhand late in the game and blew them all, none bigger than a wide-open three-point try by Ronald Tujbid and that De Ocampo short stab as a follow-up for that miss.

Fajardo still didn’t make an appearance at the venue with his left knee, which he twisted in Game 6 of the Beermen’s Final Four series with Rain or Shine last Friday, still swollen.

But the Beermen – for the second straight game – managed to make do without their cornerstone, and nearly pulled this one out again.

Right now, San Miguel coach Leo Austria believes that his biggest problem is how to keep his Beermen motivated after a second heart-rending loss.

“That’s really my concern,” Austria said of the motivation factor. “Fans and management want to see us fighting back, despite of our handicap (of not having Fajardo).”

“I hope they don’t get practical,” Austria said of his players. “In the history of the best-of-seven (playoffs), our chances are still there (even if we are 0-2 down). They know that they can beat Alaska. We just didn’t get the break.”

Game 3 is slated Friday at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City, and it will be a do-or-die game for the Beermen.

Austria said that even though the situation is dire for them come Friday, he still won’t play Fajardo unless he is “100% healthy.”

“I will not jeopardize the future of Philippine basketball and the San Miguel team by playing him if he doesn’t feel 100%,” Austria said. “If he is not fit, he won’t even make an appearance (in Lucena).”

Alex Cabagnot led the Beermen with 23 points, with De Ocampo, Lassiter and Santos combined for another 34.

Santos fouled out for the second straight game.

Meanwhile, the sale of the Barako Bull franchise to Phoenix Petroleum has reportedly been finalized as the league’s board will vote on Wednesday whether to approve the deal.

Phoenix needs a two-thirds vote from the 12-team board for the sale to push through, and if it does get it, can play as early as the Commissioner’s Cup that opens on Feb. 10.