MANILA: Arizona Reid has done this quite consistently in the past — lead his team to the Finals.

Only this time, he did his damage on his former team, and will be seeking a first PBA title with this one.

Reid scored 10 of his 38 points in the fourth quarter on Wednesday night and led San Miguel Beer to a 117-110 nipping of Rain or Shine at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao for a berth in the Governors’ Cup title series.

The braid-haired import was dominant when the game was on the line, leading the Beermen in quashing a last-ditch rally by the Elasto Painters, who almost erased a 19-point deficit at the start of the fourth before ultimately losing the best-of-five series, 3-1.

And he got a lot of help — and he will continue to get a lot in the Finals — with June Mar Fajardo backing him up with 27 and three others shooting in twin digits, with former MVP Arwind Santos completing a double-double with 15 points and 14 boards.

Just when most everyone thought that the final frame would be a walk-in-the-park for the Beermen after taking a 93-74 lead into the fourth were given a jolt when the Elasto Painters fought hard to come to within four with under four minutes left.

But Reid bailed San Miguel out by making four of the Beermen’s final six points that eventually sealed a second title series clash with the Alaska Aces this season.

“This hard-earned victory is about the players, I give them all the credit,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria, who is also gunning for his second title. “They really didn’t want to lose.”

San Miguel nipped Alaska in a Game 7 to remember for the Philippine Cup earlier this year, and Austria is well aware of the vindication angle that the Aces could be looking at as their series starts Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

“(We know) that there are so many ways to beat Alaska,” Austria said. “What I am worried about is our energy level. Having come from a hard series, they (Beermen) might have the tendency to relax.”

San Miguel took control of the game by scoring seven unanswered points with well under a minute left in the first half, racing to a 64-50 lead going into the third, which they protected with ferocity the rest of the way.

Rain or Shine tried mounting a comeback the whole of the second half and almost pulled it out even with Paul Lee being held scoreless in the fourth period.

Rain or Shine scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter and came to within 104-108 after a Jeff Chan reverse with 3:34 to go.

But the Beermen simply could not be denied as their defense didn’t allow an open Rain or Shine shot after that, with Reid scoring two straight baskets that made it 115-106 going into the final 67 seconds.

Fajardo was also big in helping repel the series of Rain or Shine comebacks, shooting four points in a two-minute stretch in the fourth that kept the Beermen’s collective heads well above water.

The leading MVP and Best Player of the Conference candidate was simply too much for any one man at Rain or Shine to handle, shooting 10 points in the first and 13 in the third to help San Miguel maintain control.

San Miguel will have less than two days to cool its heels before plunging into action once again against a well-rested Alaska crew whose coaching staff saw the last two games of their series.

Chan finished with 21 points built around five triples, with Gabe Norwood contributing 15 and Lee shooting 13 for the Painters, who ended their season with a runner-up finish to Talk ‘N Text in the Commissioner’s Cup and Final Four appearances in the Philippine Cup and here.