MANILA: Comeback completed, history written.

Coming out for Game 7 as determined as it ever was, San Miguel Beer on Wednesday night broke away early and then held off Alaska, triumphing, 96-89, to complete the most remarkable comeback ever in the PBA and repeat as Philippine Cup champ.

There were close to 24,000 souls that showed up at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay to witness history written as the Beermen completed their amazing climb from 0-3 down in the best-of-seven series for the franchise’s first-ever repeat championship feat since being a pioneer member of the league in 1975.

Chris Ross outshone San Miguel’s more illustrious superstars in the rubber match very few thought was possible after Alaska had taken the first three games of the series, shooting 21 points to cap a sterling series and win the Finals MVP award from the covering PBA Press Corps.

June Mar Fajardo sustained his personal comeback from a twisted knee injury and dominated with 21 points and 15 boards, obviously providing the inspiration and the firepower against the gung-ho Aces.

San Miguel erected a 21-point lead late in the third quarter but had to agonize in the stretch as the Aces came roaring back to within five points twice near the halfway mark of the fourth.

It was the sixth all-Filipino championship for San Miguel and the 22nd overall for the franchise to improve the all-time mark.

But this one was definitely sweetest and the loss was definitely the bitterest for Alaska, which has lost its last three title series against San Miguel counting a 4-0 sweep in the Governors’ Cup last season.

Arwind Santos and Marcio Lassiter also finished in twin digits and combined for 28 points, even as Chris Banchero paced Alaska with 21 with Calvin Abueva adding 16 that went with nine rebounds.

Alaska coach Alex Compton tried to pull every trick available in the book just to disrupt the momentum San Miguel carried into the game.

Compton called three straight timeouts even before the opening tip but still couldn’t slow down the San Miguel juggernaut that had the Beermen taking a 15-8 lead — and establishing their character — right after the first six minutes.

It was all San Miguel from there as the Beermen methodically broke away, opening up a 68-47 lead after a Santos triple off the glass with 2:01 left in the third before settling for a 17-point bubble going into the fourth period.

Banchero anchored the Alaska rally by shooting 16 of his total in the fourth quarter, but the Beermen simply thwarted the last of those comebacks with Santos coming up with a triple and Ross scoring seven straight points that restored order.

It was Ross’ most prolific offensive game in the series, and Austria labeled him as the big difference in the 25th Game 7 of league history.

“It really made a big difference,” Austria said of Ross’ performance, which was highlighted by a 4-for-6 clip from beyond three-point range. “You know that it (three-point shot) was a bonus for the team, because every time he made one, the bench jumps up and down.”

The next conference, the import-spiced Commissioner’s Cup, opens on Feb. 10.

Alaska coach Alex Compton said that this is the “emptiest I’ve ever felt in my life” after being on the losing end for the third straight time against the Beermen and Austria.

“But I am proud of my guys, there’s no other team I’d rather coach.”

Meanwhile, Talk ‘N Text import Ivan Johnson was canned for a game and fined P50,000 by the Commissioner’s Office on Wednesday after hitting Blackwater center JP Erram in a tune-up game last Saturday.

The volatile import, who helped the Tropang Texters to the title in the Commissioner’s Cup over Rain or Shine and Wayne Chism last season, also went after another Blackwater big man, Frank Golla, during the melee.

Commissioner Chito Narvasa and his staff reviewed the incident through video tapes provided by both teams and the league’s official videographer, the game being sanctioned by the league as an official exhibition game.

This is not the first time Johnson has had a brush with order but this will mark the first time that he will have to sit out an official game.

The Commissioner’s Cup opens on Feb. 10 with the Texters to also play Blackwater and import Malcolm Rhett.

Last season, Johnson was fined several times, including a P150,000 penalty for bumping Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao in the championship series the Texters won in seven gripping games.

It was also the hulking Johnson who knocked out a tooth from Paul Lee while going hard to the basket in one of the title series games. He was also fined for that infraction.