Arwind Santos rued the way the San Miguel Beermen approached Game Three of their 2018 Commissioner’s Cup semis series against the Alaska Aces, saying that their desire to finish things off had backfired.
The Beermen only had to win Friday night’s match to sweep their way to the Finals, but it went otherwise, as the Milkmen showed the form that made them the second seed and got away with an impressive 125-104 victory.
“Pangit kasi yung start namin at nagmamadaling kunin ang panalo. Tingin ko yun ang dahilan,” admitted Santos. “Nagmadali ang bawa’t isa, nakalimot kami sa aming gameplan. Kaya siguro ganoon.”
Things fell apart for the Beermen late in the third quarter. They were still in it as they closed within just three points, but the Aces suddenly made a stunning 17-3 run that gave them a 94-77 lead heading into the final period.
San Miguel never had a chance to recover from there, and Alaska were able to construct a wall as high as 23 points, 106-83, after a Simon Enciso jumper swished in with exactly eight minutes left to play.
But the defending champions aren’t showing any signs of dejection. The loss will only make them hungrier, and according to Santos, he and the Beermen will be buckling down to work immediately as they aim to bounce back.
“Wala kaming break,” declared Santos, the league’s Most Valuable Player back in 2012-2013. “May practice kami bukas. Kung nanalo kami, may break sana kami, pero ayun. Kailangan namin sila paghandaan.
“Hindi kami papayag na mag-tie pa yung series.”
