PBA Cup Finals 2015: San Miguel Beermen vs. Alaska Aces Results for Game 6

The Alaska Aces pulled level in the 2015 PBA Cup series on Sunday, beating the San Miguel Beermen 87-76 in Game 6 to revive their hopes of winning the first conference title of the year.

After losing two games in succession, it looked as though Alex Compton's side were on the ropes, but Yahoo Philippines confirmed their victory to tie level:

Not for the first time in this year's competition, it was a case of the Beermen starting off as the brighter side, with Leo Austria's outfit having taken early leads only to lose in Games 1 and 3.

And again the Beermen took the stronger initiative in Game 6, leading 23-17 at the end of the first quarter and edging within sight of sealing the 2015 crown.

However, Austria was left disappointed as the Aces rallied. Up until now, Calvin Abueva had been sticking out as a rare bright spark for the side, but his team-mates banded together just when it was needed most on Sunday.

In fact, the Aces outclassed the Beermen 25-13 in the second quarter to take a six-point advantage at half-time, with Jane Bracher of Rappler.com showing footage of Sonny Thoss as one of those picking up his game:

Former Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes described the resurgence as an "Aces type of score":

Tactically, though, this fixture was as much about Compton's side restricting the Beermen's biggest weapons as it was about the Aces coming to the fore.

Prior to the fixture, Thoss was quoted by broadcaster Sel Guevara as identifying June Mar Fajardo as a player who required extra attention:

The center did his part in limiting the influence of the 2015 Best Player of the Conference and Fajardo was in no way able to assert himself in the same manner that he had during the previous two games.

As a result, the Aces were permitted more momentum in attack, with Dondon Hontiveros one of those helping keep the scoreboard ticking in their favour, per Richard Dy of Spin.ph:

The Beermen would amass 20-point tallies in each of the third and fourth quarters, but were nonetheless outscored in both and a disastrous second quarter proved to be their undoing.

After the result, JV Casio—another Aces player who bounced back into good form in Game 6—was quoted by Bracher in giving his assessment of the previous encounters:

Both teams now head into Wednesday's decider with an ambiguous mindset, the Beermen on a low from their most recent defeat, but having shown far better form than this earlier on.

One can only hope that both outfits summon their best form for Game 7, where only the most deserving of the two teams will be fit to be declared 2015 PBA Cup champion.