Aces try to end series in Game 6, Beermen fight for survival

Ever the vocal coach, Tim Cone makes it clear that he doesn’t want to be dragged in another winner-take-all encounter, more so in a best-of-seven finals. So given another shot at ending the Alaska Aces’ PBA Fiesta Cup title series against defending champion San Miguel, Cone has voiced out his desire to end it all Wednesday night when Game 6 of the series is played out at the Araneta Coliseum. “Game Six is our game of decision," declared Cone. “Needless to say, we don’t want to play in a Game Seven. We’ll need to do what it takes to win Game Six." The Aces already survived two do-or-die games in these playoffs, getting past Barangay Ginebra in their best-of-five quarterfinals, before eliminating top seed Talk `N Text in a stunning semifinals outcome. They’ve jumped the gun on the Beermen, led them 3-1, but reeled back after absorbing a 96-94 loss in Game 5 when Cyrus Baguio’s three-point shot fell short at the buzzer. Cone said the Aces, seeking their 13th title overall, failed to play with urgency and weren’t exactly the team that has dominated the Beermen in the championship playoff. “We didn’t bring our A-plus game," Cone admitted. “But we took their best punch and recovered. Our team is confident right now. We believe we can finish it off." But apparently, that close win Sunday has given back the reigning champions their confidence, with interim head coach Gee Abanilla seeking to give the Beermen their first back-to-back win in the series. “I don’t try to bother myself with the pressure and think of the negatives," said Abanilla, temporarily taking over the coaching chores from Siot Tanquingcen. “I feel confident. I want to be positive about it. It’s just managing what you feel and what you think. We all believe." Abanilla stressed it was management’s decision to have him call the shots for the team, a move that bore fruit right away judging from the way the Beermen handled the pressure and played with poise to pull off the all-important win that cut the series deficit to 3-2. And Abanilla doesn’t hide the fact that whatever worked the last time, may yet worked again for them. “This series is about tempo," Abanilla noted. “The team that dictates the tempo and play the kind of game it wants will win." The Beermen did dictate the tempo in Game 5 right from the opening tip, even leading by as many as 50-39 at the half before repulsing repeated rallies by the Aces. San Miguel is trying to become only the second team in PBA history to hurdle a 1-3 deficit and win the championship. If the Beermen force a deciding Game 7, the match would be played on Aug 25 and not on Friday, Aug. 20. - RCJ, GMANews.TV