#PBA2016 Philippine Cup Finals Roundup: January 24, 2016

The Alaska Aces looked well on their way to bagging their first Philippine Cup title since 2000, but San Miguel Beer had other plans as the Beermen rallied in the fourht quarter and overtime to push the 2015-2016 PBA Philippine Cup Finals to a fifth game. SMB unloaded a 16-5 windup in the final 3:30 of regulation to force OT and then made the bigger plays in the dying minutes of the extra session to prevail.

Gabby Espinas torched his former team with a huge double-double to help SMB live to fight another day.
(image from the PBA/Inquirer)

Game Capsules (adapted from Interaksyon): 

SAN MIGUEL BEERMEN over ALASKA ACES, 110-104 (OT)
Box Scores. 


The San Miguel Beermen trailed by 11 points with three and a half minutes remaining but managed to pull off a stunning comeback, 110-104, to deny Alaska of a sweep and extend the SMART BRO PBA Philippine Cup Finals after a Game 4 victory in overtime on Sunday at the PhilSports Arena.

Best Player of the Game is Chris Ross with 11pts, 12rebs and 9assts. Game 4 of @alaska_aces vs @smbeermen 012416 at PhilSports Arena, Pasig. #2016pbaphilippinecup #2016pbaphilippinecupfinals #pba41stseason amdg

A photo posted by Philippine Basketball Asscn (@pbaconnect) on Jan 24, 2016 at 4:50am PST

San Miguel, still playing without reigning back-to-back PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo – who received the Best Player of the Conference award prior to the game – got some huge performances from their other players in the crucial Game 4.

June Mar Fajardo collects his 4th BPC award l https://t.co/Cvy2GMoJYc #PBAFinals pic.twitter.com/C2ZHMKdm8V

— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) January 24, 2016

Marcio Lassiter scored 26 points, Gabby Espinas had 21 points and 14 rebounds while Chris Ross, who made some big baskets in overtime, barely missed out on triple-double with 11 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists.

San Miguel trails the best-of-seven series, 3-1, but if this game is any indication, down most definitely does not mean out for the gutsy Beermen.

They faced a 93-82 deficit with 3:30 on the clock but caught Alaska with a 14-0 run to grab a three-point lead heading into the dying seconds.

Alaska’s Cyrus Baguio forced an extra period after a clutch three-pointer at the buzzer and the Aces again took the upper hand after Vic Manuel opened it with back-to-back baskets, 102-98.

Baguio forces OT with a buzzer-beating three:


But SMB showed it was not ready to fold just yet, scoring 12 straight points to take a 110-102 lead and extend the series to at least a 5th game.

Manuel led the Aces again with 20 points off the bench, while Calvin Abueva and Dondon Hontiveros each tallied 14 markers for the losing side.

Lines of the Game: 
Vic Manuel (ALA) - 20pts, 13rebs, 2asts, 1blk, 7/13 FGs
Gabby Espinas (SMB) - 21pts, 14rebs, 2asts, 1blk, 8/12 FGs

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