San Miguel Beer and Alaska arranged a winner-take-all showdown by besting their respective semis rivals in the UNTV Cup PBA Legends Faceoff held over the weekend at the Pasig City Sports Center.
The Beermen banked heavily on the troika of two-time MVP Danny Ildefonso, Kiko Adriano and Dondon Hontiveros to outlast the Purefoods Hotdogs of four-time MVP Alvin Patrimonio, 79-70, while the Alaska Milkmen demolished the Ginebra Kings, 84-69, through another solid effort from Willie Miller and Jeff Cariano.
Both San Miguel and Alaska came into their games enjoying twice-to-beat privileges in their respective semis series after finishing 1-2 in the short elims but they needed no extra game as they reaffirmed their mastery over their rivals.
The face-off of the event bankrolled by UNTV through its president and CEO Dr. Daniel Razon is set July 8 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Razon said the combined prizes of the tournament worth P2 million – P1 million to the champion, P500,000 to the runnerup, P300,000 and P200,000 to the third and fourth placers, respectively – will go to the PBA Legends Foundation.
The foundation was formed to help former PBA players who are either sick or are in need of financial help for the education of their children.
Adriano topscored for the Beermen with 24 points but it was Ildefonso who made the key baskets that enabled them to pull away for good in the third quarters.
Ildefonso posted another double-double with 19 points and 14 boards while Hontiveros added 16 points.
Miller got the better of his shootout with Pido Jarencio and produced 25 points while Johnny Abarrientos and Cariaso combined for 33 points, eight rebounds and seven assits.
Kenneth Duremdes, another MVP winner in Alaska jersey, chipped in 9 points.
The scores:
First Game
ALASKA 84—Miller 25, Cariaso 17, Abarrientos 16, Hawkins 10, Duremdes 8, Ferriols 6, B. Lim 2.
GINEBRA 69—Jarencio 18, David 13, Aquino 10, Feihl 8, Jose 6, Hizon 6, Cheng 2, Orquillas 2, Palad 2, Marzan 2.
Quarters: 20-16, 38-34, 61-52, 84-69.
Second Game
SAN MIGUEL 79—Adriano 24, Ildefonso 19, Hontiveros 16, Caidic 9, Calaguio 6, Belasco 3, Gamboa 2
PUREFOODS 70—Capacio 17, Patrimonio 16, Yap 14, Espinosa 8, Lago 8, Santamaria 6, Balingit 1.
Quarters: 15-23, 39-40, 55-52, 79-70.
