PBA Cup Finals 2015: San Miguel Beermen vs. Alaska Aces Preview for Game 5

The San Miguel Beermen will be hoping to build on their strong performance from Game 4 in this engrossing PBA Cup Finals series, with the scores poised at 2-2 on the cusp of the fifth match.

After surrendering a sizeable lead to the Alaska Aces in two of the first three matches, it was vital that Leo Austria’s side stopped the rot to preserve any realistic chances of glory in this competition. And thanks to some shrewd decisions from the coach, they did exactly that, picking up what was eventually a comfortable 88-70 win.

The Beermen—who are considered the better of the two teams—must build on this recent positive display, but as the Aces have showcased throughout this series, you’d be foolish to rule them out of the running. Here’s a look at how the two sides are shaping up ahead of the fifth match of the PBA Cup Finals.

Beermen Finally Finding Form

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Point guard Alex Cabagnot proved to be a big hit for the Beermen in the team’s last outing. He made his maiden appearance in the series in Game 4, and drafting him into the squad proved to be a masterstroke from Austria as Cabagnot helped himself to 22 points.

In truth, it was a much more rounded effort from the Beermen, compared to recent performances, as noted here by analyst Ronnie Nathanielsz:

But the impact of individual players could prove key as the pressure begins to crank up in this competition. Big-game experience, in particular, can make a huge difference in the latter stages of a tournament like this, especially when it’s a series that looks set to go down to the wire. 

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With that in mind, the Beermen will be delighted to have center June Mar Farjado on their books. He failed to impress in the early stages of the tournament but returned to form in Game 4 with 11 points and 11 rebounds to his name.

Being named as the best player of the conference will also surely lend him a major confidence boost, per PBAonTV5:

The Aces have shown real fortitude to upset the odds on a couple of occasions in the tournament so far, but you get the impression that the Beermen’s most recent win could turn out to be a cornerstone victory.

The more illustrious outfit will be desperate to edge ahead of their dogged opponents in the fifth game of the series and with confidence high, expect them to do exactly that. With players such as Cabagnot and Farjado looking as though they’re beginning to find form, the Beermen’s offence will prove to be far too powerful for the Aces.