MANILA — With super rookie Calvin Abueva and super sub RJ Jazul exploding huge bombs down the stretch, the Alaska Aces are now just one victory away from a first Finals appearance since 2010. The Aces razed a 16-point third-quarter deficit to pull off a resounding 89-82 victory in overtime against the San Mig Coffee Mixers in Game 3 of their PBA Commissioner's Cup best-of-five semifinals Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. It was the second straight victory for the Aces in the semifinals, giving them a 2-1 edge in the series. They could wrap it up with a victory in Game 4 this Saturday. Alaska had earlier lost nine straight games against San Mig Coffee ever since its former coach Tim Cone transferred there. Coming off the bench, Abueva scored a game-high 24 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and contributed countless hustle plays. Fellow substitute Jazul complemented Abueva's heroics in the overtime period where he scored all six of his points. Jazul could have won the game for Alaska in regulation but missed an open layup with a second left and the score tied at 80-all, forcing the extra period. While Jazul shone in the extra period, Abueva was brilliant all game long, particularly in the second half and overtime where he unloaded 17 points. Abueva put an exclamation mark on his fiery performance with a breakaway dunk with 36.7 seconds left in overtime after Cyrus Baguio blocked a three-point shot by San Mig top gunner James Yap. Both Alaska and San Mig Coffee actually had several chances to win the game in regulation. Joe Devance nailed a three-pointer with 36 seconds left to give the Mixers a 78-77 lead. James Yap then split his free throws with 21 seconds left for a two-point lead. Coming from a timeout, the Aces struck back with JVee Casio setting up Sonny Thoss for a three-point play as Alaska regained the lead at 80-79 with 13 seconds remaining. But Casio was called for his sixth and last foul on Denzel Bowles with 4.9 seconds left. Bowles could only split his free throws to tie the game. Abueva zoomed past San Mig defenders and flung the ball to Jazul, who missed an open layup as the buzzer sounded, forcing overtime. It was all Alaska in the extra period. Import Denzel Bowles led San Mig Coffee with 19 points and 15 rebounds while Mark Barroca and Marc Pingris chipped in 15 points apiece. Pingris also had 15 rebounds and six assists. In the nightcap of the Wednesday semifinals double-header, the undermanned Talk N Text Tropang Texters routed the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings, 98-80, in Game 3 of their own semifinals series. New TNT import Tony Mitchell debuted with 29 points and 12 rebounds while Larry Fonacier broke out of a slump with 20 points to lead the Texters, who are now one victory away from making their third straight trip to the finals of this tournament. Game 4 is set on Friday.
