The 2015 PBA Philippine Cup Finals so far

Win or lose, the Aces' loyal fans
are starting to grow in number with each day
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

If only we could extend this 2015 PBA Philippine Cup series from a Best-of-Seven to maybe a Best-of-Eleven or Thirteen or Fifteen or... then we'd be constantly be treated to hard-fought, instant classics akin to the same competitive fire of yesteryears (when players weren't multi-millionaire franchises scared of being called out on social media and played all out if only to make a name for themselves). Oh yes, the PBA Finals that has the San Miguel Beermen ahead 3-2 against the Alaska Aces have drawn in so much interest that even fans of other basketball teams have gone on to either 1) watch the games on television or live or 2) wish that their own teams played with the same intensity and desire.

Here's what we know: the Beermen are an invincible unit when their "Fab 5" are on the court: that's reigning PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo, former PBA MVP Arwind Santos, Alex Cabagnot, Chris Lutz and Marcio Lassiter. These five guys are absolute beasts and could easily be the starting core for Gilas 3.0 (barring any politicking and drama).


In five games, here are their averages:

Fajardo: 37.2 mpg, 14.4 ppg, 12.4 rpg
Santos: 35 mpg, 16.8 ppg, 10 rpg, 2.6 apg
Cabagnot: 26.6 mpg, 9.8 mpg, 2.2 rpg, 4 apg
Lassiter: 27 mpg, 8.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2 apg
Lutz: 34.8 mpg, 12. 4 ppg, 5 rpg, 4 apg

Compare that with the Alaska Aces' best unit of...

Calvin Abueva: 28.2 mpg, 19.6 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 2.4 apg
Dondon Hontiveros: 24.6 mpg 9.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.6 apg
JVee Casio: 27.2 mpg, 7.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.8 apg
Cyrus Baguio: 25.8 mpg, 9.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.6 apg
Sonny Thoss: 28.4 mpg, 8.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.6 apg

... and you could probably tell why the Beermen are enjoying a nice, 3-2 lead going into Game 6.

It should be noted though that the "Fab 5" play a lot of minutes while the Aces are bent on shuffling their guys at all times to maintain their high octane brand of basketball. Still, this series was a nip and tuck affair right until two, series-changing adjustments that were initiated by the Beermen.

One, the "basketbrawl" that was Game 2.

It was dirty, it was ugly and boy oh boy it showed the whole world that even though the Aces' new breed of players (Abueva specifically) are helter, skelter and rough, the Beermen can play the same way and come out as victors. Santos, long chastised for selling out and playing #larongmayaman basketball, suffered a nasty cut but instead of cowering in fear or playing it safe, went to war for his team and was even trying to coax Abueva as if to ask "is that all you've got you loud mouth, pun@ss, little sh*t?"

It set a tone for the Beermen. Their "leader," who has always been comfortable in the shadows, has finally taken a stand. Enough of the B.S. and #larongmayaman. ladies and gentlemen we are seeing the REAL Arwind Santos playing once again and so far, it hasn't been a great sign for the Aces.

Next, and the one that's become a tough nut to solve for Aces' coach Alex Compton, is Beermen coach Leo Austria's decision to plug in Alex Cabagnot and Marcio Lassiter in the starting unit.

So instead of being able to sag off Chris Ross, the Aces now need to keep an eye on Cabagnot. Instead of daring a rookie like Ronald Pascual to try and make all the open shots given him because of a certain Fajardo, now they have to be wary of Lassiter's complete in and out game.

It's almost like having to guard two Chris Lutz-- one a mild-mannered, gentleman, the other a hot-blooded mofo.

The Aces only have one Dondon Hontiveros to counter while Baguio has the same build as the Beermen's point guard Ross so go figure.

To win and force a Game 7, the Aces will need more from everyone. Abueva has been playing insane, high-level basketball, but this constant theme of having to "climb up the hill" in games is starting to take its toll. This series, as we've mentioned on our preview, is going to be a battle of attrition-- and the way the Aces are playing (or have been playing), that battery might run out sooner than later while the Beermen are simply taking turns on offense (the Fab 5 are playing long minutes, but it's not like before wherein they'll simply go to Fajardo 5 straight possessions, then Santos for another 5 and so on).

Where's Casio? The Fab 5's size is making it difficult for the man with the God Mode switch to do anything on offense, since they can easily switch on him and have the size advantage (Cabagnot, Lutz and Lassiter).

Right now, the Aces need more from their bigs Thoss, Vic Manuel and Eric Menk.

For the Beermen, the Fab 5 looks to be ready to go for the kill and truly shed their #larongmayaman tag en route to greatness.

Kapit bayan!