Beermen: Series far from over

MANILA, Philippines – San Miguel Beer could have easily been 3-0 up but is staring at a 1-2 deficit and needs to regroup heading to Game Four of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals versus Alaska Milk and its huge fighting heart.

Just how can the Beermen match the Aces’ indomitable spirit?

That’s the big question as the two teams square off in Game Four of their best-of-seven titular showdown at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

In Game One, coach Leo Austria admitted he didn’t know what happened as they blew away a 22-point spread and went down 82-88 in overtime.

In Game Three, Austria thought they were well prepared, but was shocked seeing his troops again squander a big bubble and reel in a heartbreaking 70-78 defeat.

Austria was thankful it’s not a short series.

“It’s a best-of-seven and we’re capable of winning three or four consecutive games. We displayed it against the team we beat in the semifinals,” said the SMB bench chieftain, referring to their four-game sweep of Talk n Text in the semifinals.

“The potential is there. It’s up to us,” he also said.

In a conflicting statement after Game Three, Austria took full responsibility for the loss but later criticized his team for losing composure in the face of Alaska’s hard-nosed defense in the fourth quarter much like in Game One.

“This is my fault. I was not able to control the game. But I’m not the one playing inside the court. All I can do is to remind them of what to do,” he rued.

“We lost because of a lot of turnovers in the fourth quarter. What happened was beyond my control because I thought all the while we prepared hard, and we knew the situation,” Austria pointed out. “We knew what they’re doing, and we knew what kind of plays we’re going to run. But inside the court, I can’t control them anymore.”

Austria was particularly disappointed they weren’t able to maximize the strength of Junemar Fajardo as they failed to get the ball in his hands.

The Aces did a remarkable job in denying Fajardo. In a few times that Fajardo got possession, the Aces quickly doubled or tripled on the 6-foot-10 behemoth, thus, limiting him to three charities in the fourth period.

Alaska’s choking defense allowed SMB to make just a single field basket and a measly total of six points in the final frame.

The Aces dished out a near flawless, tremendous effort in the last period where they pummeled the Beermen, 32-6, without committing a single turnover.

Calvin Abueva outworked just everyone, obvious with his 10-8 advantage on rebounds versus the entire SMB team in the last 12 minutes of play.

The Alaska workhorse put up remarkable all-around numbers with 16 points, 15 rebounds and five assists in the game where he inflicted fellow Kapampangan and SMB counterpart Arwind Santos another cut in another hard clash.

For Santos, the loss rubbed salt on his wound.

“Okay lang sana, kung panalo kami,” he said.

For a while, Santos provided his teammates inspiration as he rattled in 20 points after the incident, helping fuel their breakaway to a 21-point lead in the third quarter. But Santos himself melted away at the finish.

Santos, however, stressed the series is far from over.

“I’m just looking at it as a see-saw series. The game the last time was theirs and the next should be ours,” Santos said.