Game recap (adapted from Interaksyon):
SAN MIGUEL BEERMEN over ALASKA ACES, 91-81
Box scores.
The San Miguel Beermen completed a four-game sweep of Alaska after a 91-81 win in Game Four that clinched the franchise’s 21st championship on Friday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
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| (image from Inquirer.net) |
Arizona Reid scored 33 points, while back-to-back PBA MVP and Finals MVP June Mar Fajardo dominated for 19 points and 21 rebounds as they led the Beermen to a 4-0 sweep of the PBA Governors’ Cup finals.
Marcio Lassiter added 12 points, while Gabby Espinas provided a boost off the bench with 8 markers.
It was the second championship for San Miguel in the PBA’s 40th season. They also ruled the Philippine Cup after a seven-game series with the same Alaska side that they faced in these Finals.
San Miguel actually fell behind by double-figures in the first half but dominated the latter two periods to complete the sweep of Alaska, which finished the elimination round as the No. 1 team.
The Aces, as promised, put up a fight in the first half with Calvin Abueva leading the way. ‘The Beast’ was huge in the first half, tallying 11 points and 13 rebounds over the first two periods alone. Alaska import Romeo Travis, meanwhile, nearly matched the prolific AZ Reid, scoring 11 points, only two less than Reid’s total of 13 at the break.
But Reid came out of the dugout red-hot, dominating the third quarter with his stellar offensive play. He scored 16 points in the quarter, including four three-pointers, as he nearly outdueled the entire Alaska team single-handedly. The Beermen outscored the Aces, 33-16, in the one-sided third period.
They didn’t stop the rampage, though, and opened the final period on an 11-0 run, six of them coming from Fajardo and three coming on Reid’s sixth triple of the game.
That gave San Miguel a whopping 16-point lead, 81-65, marking a remarkable 30-point turnaround from the last seven seconds of the first half.
Abueva tried to ensure that Alaska would at least go down swinging, but it was too little, too late for the Aces.
Abueva’s 22 points and 17 rebounds paces Alaska, while Romeo Travis added 15 points and Sonny Thoss tossed in a baker’s dozen.
Line of the Game: June Mar Fajardo (SMB) - 19pts, 21rebs, 3stls, 2blks, 1ast, 9/13 FGs.
Prior to Game 4, the PBA’s annual Leo Awards took place, and here are the recipients of the season-ending citations:
Season MVP: June Mar Fajardo (SMB)
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| Season MVP, Mythical Five First Team, Sportsmanship Award, Best Player of the Conference, and Finals MVP. Wow. |
Rookie of the Year: Stanley Pringle (GLO)
Most Improved Player: Terrence Romeo (GLO)
Sportsmanship Award: June Mar Fajardo (SMB)
PBA Mythical First Team:
Greg Slaughter (GIN)
June Mar Fajardo (SMB)
Arwind Santos (SMB)
Paul Lee (ROS)
Jayson Castro (TNT)
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| Joining the MVP in the Mythical First Team are Arwind Santos, Greg Slaughter, Jayson Castro, and Paul Lee (not in photo). |
PBA Mythical Second Team:
Asi Taulava (NLX)
Ranidel de Ocampo (TNT)
Calvin Abueva (ALA)
Terrence Romeo (GLO)
Stanley Pringle (GLO)
All-Defensive Team:
June Mar Fajardo (SMB)
Gabe Norwood (ROS)
Calvin Abueva (ALA)
Ping Exciminiano (ALA)
Chris Ross (SMB)
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| Alex Cabagnot was solid again as SMB swept Alaska. |
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| AZ Reid may not be the Best Import, but he finally nailed his first PBA title. |
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| Sports5 talent Apple David gets soaked in the locker room celebration of the Beermen. |
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| Calvin Abueva and the Aces bowed out despite being the top-seeded team. |
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| Marcio Lassiter was a crucial player as SMB pocketed its second conference title of the season. |
Images are by Paul Ryan Tan and Pranz Kaeno Billones/Sports5.
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