No-fear Red Bull steps closer to historic crown

Rookie Willie Miller unleashed his best performance in the series and preserved the exploits by spoiling what could have been import Nate Johnson’s biggest night in the playoffs with a crucial stoppage in the last 1.8 seconds as Red Bull snatched a 79-77 thriller over San Miguel Beer in Game Five of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup championship at the Araneta Coliseum last night.

The bull-strong Miller, whose spunk and gutsy plays provided the spark for the Thunder’s decisive comeback in the contest, blocked Johnson’s undergoal shot on the Beermen’s final possession and Red Bull snatched the win that put the team within a victory of claiming the crown.

Miller best embodied the character of the Thunder who had to lean on the athleticism of its youth-laden squad in the face of a miserable outing by the conference’s best import Antonio Lang before 13,000 fans. Lang had only four points, the lowest by any import ever in the finals.

The Beermen seized initiative early with the Thunder taking charge in the final half with a nine-point spread at 63-54.

But the Beermen fed on the Johnson’s explosive game and the SMB import, who shot 43 points, fired five points and the Beermen came within one at 74-73.

Then Mick Pennisi strung up four points against a three-pointer by Danny Seigle to pave the way for a heart-pounding last two minutes at 78-77. A Lang free throw from an SMB technical made it 79-77 but Miller, who had eight points, missed on a jumper and Davonn Harp, scoring 17 points, fumbled on a drive and the Beermen gained possession.

But the Beermen ran into a rugged Red Bull defense and Seigle missed on an awkward three-pointer in the last 33 seconds. The Thunder themselves failed to win it outright as Pennisi’s three-pointer came off hard and banged on the rim. Then came a series of timeouts before San Miguel made the final play on Johnson which was nullified by Miller’s tough defense.

" I take my hats on the locals. This team has no fear. Now the pressure is on us...to win," said Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao. " No matter what happens, this team has overachieved. I am happy at how things happened. If I were going to war I’ll go to war with these 13."