PBA Commissioner's Cup Semifinals 2013: Exorcising Their Demons (Alaska vs. SMC Game 2)

      Finally, after 9 games against their former mentor Tim Cone, Alaska has beaten the San Mig Coffee Mixers (formerly the B Meg Llamados), and boy, did they beat them BIG.

     Honestly, I wasn't able to watch the 1st game between the two teams, but based on the tweets that I read while the game was ongoing, it was a heck of a game. It was a game that put a premium on defense, as shown by the low final score. Not only was it a physical game because of the defense, but it was also an incredibly emotional one. From Leo Najorda and Calvin Abueva getting under each others skin, to James Yap telling Calvin Abueva to kiss him much to Kris Aquino's dismay, this game had the makings of a classic. Sadly, it had to end, thanks, to a certain Mr. Bowles.

Monster Bowles comes up in the clutch again. (credits to Nuki Sabio and InterAKTV)

     San Mig Coffee had all the momentum. They won a tightly contested match up, and they didn't fold in the clutch. Despite Calvin Abueva's attempt to frustrate the reigning Commissioner's Cup champions, they still found a way to win a game. They remained unbeaten against the Aces after 9 games, and they could win Game 2 to put The Beast and the Aces to the brink of elimination.

     Sadly, Rob Dozier had other plans. 

     The Alaska Aces finally exorcised their demons, and beat the San Mig Coffee Mixers 86 - 67 at the SM Mall Of Asia Arena, April 29, 2013. 

     For the first few minutes of the game, the Mixers kept it close, playing on par with the energy the Aces were playing. But by the end of the first quarter, Alaska was leading 24 - 14. Then, things started to get chippy come the second quarter.

    Gabby Espinas got ejected because of his second technical foul, Denzel Bowles got into foul trouble, and Calvin Abueva.. well, just did his thing. He pissed the living hell out off the San Mig Coffee Mixers. Under all the drama that was happening, Rob Dozier was quietly having a hell of a game. The first half ended 43 - 28, in favor of the Aces once again. 

This is turning into quite a rivalry. The Beast vs. The Face of  the PBA. (credits to Nuki Sabio and InterAKTV)

       The third quarter was still pretty much the same. Calvin was still being Calvin, Denzel Bowles struggling because of the Alaska defense, and Rob Dozier quietly continued to pile up his numbers. He had a 20 - 20 game by the end of the third quarter. The Aces maintained their lead and ended the quarter leading 63 - 44.

       By the end of the third quarter, guys like Lester Alvarez and Leo Najorda who usually didn't get much minutes (especially Alvarez) started to play. Was Tim Cone raising the white flag? Was he accepting that his unbeaten streak against the Aces was about to end?

      Not exactly.

    At the start of the quarter, Alaska still got their points, highlighted by a coast to coast Calvin Abueva dunk. Everything seemed right for the Aces.. until Joe Devance got to work. 

      Devance would pile up his points, hoping to make a run against Alaska. They played their defense, leaving Alaska stuck at 70. Each point that the Mixers would score, the crowd would grow wild. There was still hope. They could still win this. Until Sonny Thoss came into the mix.

     Thoss would score two straight buckets to put the Aces back up by 15 points, and at that point, San Mig Coffee was not longer able to make another run. 

     Now that the series is all tied up and that Alaska has finally exorcised their demons and ended their 9 game losing streak against Tim Cone, who has momentum? 

    Honestly, I think no one. 

    Sure Alaska blew the Mixers big time, but at this point, it is anybody's ball game. You can no longer tell the Aces that they haven't beaten Tim Cone, or can you tell the Mixers that Denzel Bowles is utterly unstoppable. It's all equal now. No more winning/losing streaks are on the line. No more unstoppable forces. Just a spot in the Commissioner's Cup Finals, on the line for both teams. 

   Both teams will have their all star breaks this week. Sure they'll have their fun with entertaining the fans and such at Digos, but I'm pretty sure that at the back of their minds, they're thinking about Wednesday's game. A chance to put the other team on the brink of elimination. A chance to move on step closer to the Finals.

  So what are we to expect come May 8 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum? 

  War. 

  (The next game of the San Mig Coffee Mixers and the Alaska Aces will be on May 8, 2013, Wednesday, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The series between  Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and the Talk n Text Tropang Texters will also continue on the same playdate.)