Aces go for 3-0; SMB, TNT break deadlock

By WAYLON GALVEZ

Alaska may be up two games to none in its semifinal showdown with defending champion Sta. Lucia Realty, but coach Tim Cone has seen many battles to fall into a false sense of security.

"If you relax for a moment against them they’ll get you," Cone said, referring to the Realtors’ capability of staging a comeback in their best-of-seven Final Four series.

The Aces won the first two games, 92-79, and 94-87.

No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit and the Realtors face a must-win situation when they take the floor against the Aces at 4 p.m. in Game 3 of the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup semifinal playoffs today at the Araneta Coliseum.

In the 6:30 p.m. main game, San Miguel Beer and Talk ’N Text break their 1-1 deadlock in the best-of-seven series.

The Texters won Game 1 of their separate series, 129-100, but the Beermen came back with vengeance in Game 2, 112-103.

Alaska has squandered a 2-0 lead twice against Purefoods during the 2006 Philippine Cup semifinals and 2002 Governors’ Cup Finals, a fact not lost on Cone.

Overall, five teams blew a 2-0 lead in a seven-game series. Teams with a 2-0 lead have a success rate of 84 percent as 26 of 31 teams went on to win the series.

Cone expects a dangerous Sta. Lucia.

"They’re the defending champion, unless a team knocks them down (this conference) they’re the champions. I hope that’s us, I hope we can beat them," Cone said. "We have to stay strong, keep the intensity at a high level."

SLR mentor Boyet Fernandez remains unfazed.

"It’s a must win for us," Fernandez, a former player of Cone, said. "But we’re not in a panic. We’ll just continue what we are doing and we just have to execute in the endgame, both defense and offense."

Leading the Aces is former two-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) Willie Miller, who averaged 15.5 points in this series including eight in the pivotal fourth quarter with 6.5 rebounds and five assists.

Expected to provide help are Joe Devance, LA Tenorio, Sonny Thoss, Reynel Hugnatan and Jeffrey Cariaso.

The Realtors, on the other hand, will rely on his mainstays Kelly Williams, the reigning MVP, Ryan Reyes, last seasons Rookie of the Year, Joseph Yeo, Dennis Miranda, Bitoy Omolon, Dennis Espino and Marlou Aquino.

TNT won the series opener, 129-100, but SMB bounced back with a 112-103 victory in Game 2 Friday night also at the Big Dome.

Despite the injury to forward Lordy Tugade, San Miguel drew solid games from other mainstays as guard Dondon Hontiveros and wingman Danny Seigle scored game-high 23 points apiece.

"I expect a tough series, TNT is a very tough team," SMB coach Siot Tanquingcen said. "You can never say what will happen in the next game. We just have to make sure we’re mentally tough and come out with the same energy (in Game 3)."

After allowing the Texters to shoot a league-tying 23 three-pointers in Game 1 and commit 23 turnovers, the Beermen toughened their defense in Game 2. San Miguel held TNT to just 40-of-94 or 42.6 percent (10-of-34 from three-point area) while forcing its opponent to 21 errors, which it translated to 29 points to its own 13 turnovers.

"They’ve made their fight-back," TNT coach Chot Reyes said. "They’ve made their counter, now it’s up to us to bounce back."

For them to get back on the winning track, the Texters have to continue their pressure defense, which leads to their offensive attack anchored by scoring leader Mark Cardona, who averaged 23.8 points per game this conference and had 21 in Game 1. He was limited to eight in Game 2.


http://www.mb.com.ph/SPRT20090118145941.html