The San Miguel Beermen lived to fight another day as they weathered a furious last-ditch uprising by the Alaska Aces to finally prevail, 96-93, Sunday night at the Araneta Coliseum in Game 5 of the PBA Fiesta Conference Finals. The Beermen thus cut Alaska's lead to 3-2 as they head into Game 6 on Wednesday seeking to level the count and forge a deciding Game 7. However, the Aces could wrap up the series and grab their 13th PBA crown with a win on Wednesday. After a mediocre Game 4 performance where he scored only 5 points, Best Player of the Conference Jay Washington regained his shooting touch on Sunday, leading San Miguel with 19 points. Gabe Freeman added 18 and pulled down 14 rebounds. Diamon Simpson once again led the Aces with 29 points and 18 rebounds. Joe Devance finished with 15 points and nine rebounds while Cyrus Baguio had 14. Earlier, the San Miguel management asked assistant coach Gee Abanilla to take over from Siot Tanquincen. Abanilla responded to the challenged by tapping Denok Miranda to start at point guard. Miranda did not disappoint, finishing with 12 points, six of them in the pivotal fourth quarter, plus five assists, earning for him the Best Player of the Game award. Seldom used center Mick Pennisi also came off the bench to contribute nine markers. San Miguel led by as many as 50-39, but the Aces patiently clawed their way back as they came to within striking distance on several occasions in the final canto. The Aces held the Beermen without a basket in the final 2:17 of play, shortly after Miranda drilled San Miguel final points that gave them a 96-90 lead. But Baguio struck back with a clutch three-point shot 14 seconds later and Simpson split his charities as the Aces cut the gap, 96-94. As the Beermen failed to score in their next possession, the Aces had a chance to steal the game. But Baguio was whistled for a charging foul. Again, the Beermen had a chance to put the game away but Arwind Santos missed an ill-advised three-point shot. Alaska then turned to Baguio to score the game and championship-winning points with 2.2 seconds left. But his three-point shot bounced off the rim as time expired. Meanwhile, the undermanned Smart-Gilas Philippine national basketball squad nearly upset heavily favored Lebanon, losing by a single point, 80-81, in the semifinals of the FIBA Asia Stankovic Cup at the Ghazir Sporting Club in Beirut. The Filipinos thus kissed their title hopes goodbye as they battle Qatar for third place on Monday. Japan earlier scored a pulsating 78-76 overtime win against Qatar, another Middle East giant to barge into the Finals.
