Beermen spill Aces, near Top 2

Games today (Philippine Arena) 4:30 p.m. – NLEX vs Blackwater 6:30 p.m. – Meralco vs Ginebra

San Miguel Beer proved to have the will, energy and firepower to outlast Alaska Milk in a frenetic run-and-gun showdown, pulling off a 109-96 win to close in on a Top Two finish in the PBA Philippine Cup eliminations at the Batangas City Coliseum last night.

The Beermen never backed down from the challenge as they held their own in a pressing and attacking game, and got the better end on crucial flurries in the final quarter of this Petron Blaze road setto.

The reigning all-Filipino three-peat champs thus remained ahead of the pack with a 7-2 win-loss card while the Aces dropped to third place with a second successive loss and fourth in 10 games in all.

Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra and NLEX take their first of two cracks at formalizing a quarterfinals entry as they face Meralco and Blackwater, respectively, tonight over at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

The Beermen showed a remarkable effort in turning back the Aces in their Batangas tiff where Chris Ross, Arwind Santos, June Mar Fajardo and Marcio Lassiter stood out with their big numbers.

Ross top scored with 24 points that went with nine assists, four steals and three rebounds, Santos and Lassiter made 21 points each and combined for 22 boards while Fajardo asserted himself with 18 rebounds and 17 points.