Titiyakin na ng Aces

“I just want to come out of this championship series with a title. It’s not going to be easy,” sabi ni coach Alex Compton sa kanyang Alaska na naunang kinuha ang Game One (100-91) Game Two (83-80) at Game Three (82-75). File photo/JUN MENDOZA

MANILA, Philippines – Sa ikalawang sunod na pagkakataon ay pipilitin ng Alaska na talunin ang nagdedepensang San Miguel para tuluyan nang masikwat ang inaasam na korona ng 2016 PBA Philippine Cup.

Natakasan noong Linggo, sisikapin ng Aces na dispatsahin ang Beermen ngayong alas-7 ng gabi sa Game Five ng kanilang best-of-seven championship series sa Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“I just want to come out of this championship series with a title. It’s not going to be easy,” sabi ni coach Alex Compton sa kanyang Alaska na naunang kinuha ang Game One (100-91) Game Two (83-80) at Game Three (82-75).

Nakaiwas ang San Miguel sa pagwalis sa kanila sa serye nang ilusot ang 110-104 overtime win sa Game Four noong Linggo para sa kanilang 1-3  agwat.

“It’s a series. Everybody is talking about sweep. It was a tough team with a bunch of winners that is well-coached. It’s not easy to sweep anybody,” sabi ni Compton. “We’re up 3-1. I think in the Finals, the pressure is on both teams.”

Ang naturang panalo naman sa Game Four ang nagpalakas ng loob ng Beermen kung saan sinabi ni mentor Leo Austria na kung makakapuwersa sila ng Game Seven ay tiyak nang maglalaro si back-to-back PBA Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo.

“If the players that played well in the first three games will once again play well, I think we have a good chance,” sabi ni Austria, nakahugot kay Marcio Lassiter ng conference-high na 26 points at nagdagdag naman si Gabby Espinas ng 21 points at 14 rebounds sa kanilang paglusot sa Game Four.

Nagkaroon ang 6-foot-10 na si Fajardo ng hyperextended left knee injury sa Game Six ng semifinals series ng San Miguel at Rain or Shine.

Inaasahang hindi na pa­kakawalan ng Aces ang pakakataong makamit ang kanilang pang-15 PBA championship at u­nang  All-Filipino Cup crown ma­tapos noong 2000.

Sa kasaysayan ng PBA ay wala pang kopo­nang nakakabangon mula sa 0-3 pagkakabaon at naipanalo ang serye.

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