by JOB B. DE LEON

The Indonesia Warriors fended off a late comeback from the San Miguel Beermen to win the third Asean Basketball League Championship, 78-76, on Saturday at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig.

The Beermen finished the season on top of the standings, and even claimed the first game of the series, but despite being on their home court for the deciding game, could not lift the championship trophy in their maiden season.

San Miguel isolated Duke Crews on top as the New Jersey native drove for a slam, putting his team on the scoreboard, the start of an early 9-4 run for San Miguel. The Warriors on the other hand had difficulty scoring against the Beermen’s zone defense until Evan Brock came up with a steal and slammed it home on the other end. But Crews responded with a turnaround on the low block to push them ahead, 11-6, with less than five minutes gone in the first.

Indonesia took control of the rest of the quarter, getting defensive stops that led to them dropping a 13-2 run on the Beermen. A triple and a quick drive to the hoop by former Adamson Falcon point guard Jerick Canada gave the Warriors a 19-13 advantage after the opening period.

The Warriors’ tenacious defense carried over to the second period, forcing the Beermen into multiple turnovers. On offense, Stan Pringle caught fire and scored twice in transition, totaling seven points in a 9-5 run to increase their lead, 28-18.

San Miguel, however, refused to go away. Fil-Italian point guard Chris Banchero scored after an and-one by Pringle as his team began to complete their halfcourt sets. Nick Fazekas scored eight points in the next six minutes, including an and-one play of his own as time expired, to regain some ground for the Beermen, 38-33, at halftime.

After the break, Best Local Player Leo Avenido connected with a trailing Crews for a slam, combining with Banchero to score seven straight for the Beermen. Allan Salansang answered with five straight of his own, but Crews scored on an and-one to knot the score at 43-all.

In response, the Warriors created separation with a 9-2 run capped by a layup by Steven Thomas, edging San Miguel 52-45, and forcing Coach Bobby Parks Sr. to call a timeout.

A pair of free throws by Pringle gave the Warriors their biggest lead, 59-47, with a shade over two minutes left in the quarter. San Miguel’s Junemar Fajardo and Crews countered with charities of their own, and Banchero converted on a drive from the left wing for a small 6-2 run in the final minute. Amin Prihantono however buried a trey to send the Beermen down by 11, taking a 64-53 advantage into the payoff period.

The Beermen began the fourth quarter with back-to-back baskets from Fajardo, including a dunk off a backdoor play, to trim the deficit to seven points, 64-57. Indonesia however surged forward behind Pringle, who scored six of seven unanswered points to put them ahead, 71-59.

Down but not out, San Miguel flipped their fortunes in the next two minutes. Consecutive layups by Avenido and Banchero trimmed the Warriors’ deficit to eight. Banchero added another layup after a Fazekas floater, and a putback by Fajardo punctuated a 10-0 run for the Beermen with over two minutes remaining in the game.

Pringle righted the ship for Indonesia with a wild layup. He converted the bonus try to bring the tally to 74-69. A pair of charities by Brock then answered three straight points from San Miguel’s Francis Baguion.

Crews finished at the rim with contact but could not make the bonus free throw. Nevertheless the Beermen forced a one-possession game, 76-74, with under a minute left.

Brock was fouled anew on the other end and made both free throws with 29 seconds left in the game. After their final timeout, Crews cut to the lane for a layup, trimming the deficit to 78-76 with 17 seconds to go.

The Beermen fouled Pringle on the inbounds play, but he missed both attempts from the line. Avenido raced down the court but missed his attempt at the rim. San Miguel was able to haul in the carom, but sent the rock to Canada by mistake, who zipped it to a wide-open Brock. The center missed both free throws with 1.8 ticks on the clock, and San Miguel’s Hail Mary heave did not fall through in front of the stunned Filipino crowd.

Fil-Am guard Stanley Pringle scored 28 points and eight rebounds despite an 8-for-22 outing from the field. Evan Brock notched a double-double with 15 points, 16 rebounds and two blocks and his fellow American import, Steven Thomas, had 10 points, seven rebounds and three steals.

San Miguel’s Duke Crew led all scorers with 29 points and nine rebounds. Point guard Chris Banchero had 16 points and eight assists on 7 for 12 shooting, while Nick Fazekas added 11 markers and 16 rebounds.