Beermen derail Aces, stay at 2nd

MANILA, Philippines - The battle for the second outright semis berth in the PBA Fiesta Conference is a tossup between reigning champion San Miguel Beer and Philippine Cup titleholder B-MEG Derby Ace.

San Miguel eased Alaska Milk out of the race as the Beermen played with great resolve and clobbered the Aces, 85-74, in a crucial closing game of the Phoenix Fuel PBA on Tour at the Lamberto Macias Gym in Dumaguete City last night.

Playing with so much energy in their first game in eight days, the Beermen easily duplicated their conquest of the Aces in their previous matchup as they closed out their elims stint with a 13-5 win-loss record.

“We finished our elimination-round stint on a high note. We wanted to have our destiny in our control. Now, we’ll see what happens,” said SMB coach Siot Tanquingcen.

The Llamados go for the same card as they take on the Barako Energy Coffee Masters at the close of the double-round elimination phase at the Araneta Coliseum today.

Derby Ace and Barako clash at 6:30 p.m. succeeding the equally important match between Rain or Shine and Coca-Cola at 4 p.m.

The Elasto Painters and the Tigers decide which of them fight the Barangay Ginebra Kings in a playoff for the last outright berth in the quarterfinals.

The Beermen, having taken care of their business in Dumaguete, will surely be intently watching the Derby Ace-Barako game.

San Miguel gains automatic entry into the semifinals if Barako pulls the rug from under Derby Ace.

Llamados coach Ryan Gregorio, however, said they’re determined to have a crack at a playoff for an outright semis passage.

“The chance to grab the second seat is enough reason for us to make sure that the same intensity, toughness and intelligence that enabled us to win five straight games are consistently applied against the Coffee Masters,” said Gregorio.

The Coffee Masters, meanwhile, need to win the match to force a playoff with the Air21 Express for the final cut.

Air21 kept the wildcard door open on Barako as the Express squandered a 28-point lead in a sorry loss to the Elasto Painters, 111-112, Friday.

The Beermen were smart enough not to suffer the same.

San Miguel jumped the gun on Alaska, took the half at 46-33 and refused to relax as the Beermen ended the Aces’ three-game run.

Alaska settled for an outright slot in the quarters after finishing with an 11-7 card in the elims.

The Aces, seeded fourth in the playoffs, will be up against either the Gin Kings, the Elasto Painters or the Tigers in the quarters.