MANILA — The San Miguel Beermen turned Game 1 of the PBA Governors' Cup best-of-seven Finals into a mismatch, overwhelming the Alaska Aces, 108-78, Friday night. The Beermen's game-long torrid shooting from all points, tough defense and championship poise shackled the Aces, preventing them from launching their patented come-from-behind late-game run. SMB stamped its class right from the get-go, racing to a 28-10 lead. The Aces never had a chance to threaten seriously in the fourth quarter, which SMB won took, 31-13. Just like in their last game against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, all five SMB starters scored in double digits. Import Arizona Reid and June Mar Fajardo once again proved nearly unstoppable, with Reid posting a team-high 32 points on top six rebounds and seven assists. Fajardo had a huge double-double of 18 points and a team-high 17 rebounds. Arwind Santos and Alex Cabagnot scored 15 points apiece while Chris Lutz added 12, including three three-pointers. Cabagnot and Lutz combined for 19 points in the first quarter alone, with Lutz hitting two of two from beyond the three-point arc. The Beermen fired a 12-0 salvo during that period, extending their lead to 18 points, 28-10. Calvin Abueva tried to rally the Aces in the second quarter, scoring six of Alaska's first eight points. Ping Exciminiano, Vic Manuel and JVee Casio then scored consecutive baskets as the Aces chopped the Beermen's lead to a single digit, 46-37. But Santos drilled back-to-back three-pointers as the Beermen regained a 13-point lead, 54-41, at halftime. The Beermen were also hot defensively, limiting the usually streak-shooting Alaska import Romeo Travis, who could only produce two points on 1-of-7 shooting in the first half. Alaska once again tried to close the gap in the third quarter but was again repulsed by huge baskets from Fajardo and Reid. While supporters were keeping their fingers crossed of a fourth-quarter Alaska miracle run, the Beermen made sure that would not happen as they outscored their rivals by 18 huge points. Reid alone scored 12 points in the fourth quarter, just a point shy of the entire Alaska output in that period. Travis led Alaska with 14 points, Sonny Thoss had 12 while Calvin Abueva and Dondon Hontiveros chipped in 11 points apiece. Game Sunday: San Miguel Beermen vs. Alaska Aces (Game 2 of Governors' Cup Finals, SMB leads 1-0).
