San Miguel Beermen claim their 14th PBA crown, surpassing the age-old record of the famed Crispa Redmanizers' 13 titles by winning against Sta. Lucia in five games. The Realtors were on their first finals appearance since joining the league in 1993.
Danny Ildefonso won on his second back-to-back Finals MVP in Commissioners Cup finals.
The beermen limited Sta.Lucia import Ansu Sesay to just 3 points in the second period to build a 44-33 halftime advantage. In the third quarter, San Miguel continued the assault to post a 75-50 lead.[2]
Danny Ildefonso muscled his way to 18 points and 10 rebounds and outplayed Marlou Aquino at the paint before Danny Seigle converted on a trey that gave the beermen a 67-61 spread.[3]
Danny Seigle scored six of the beermen's last nine points, hitting two clutch baskets to lift San Miguel past Sta.Lucia, with Stephen Howard trapped on a double team down low. The beermen were forced to rotate the ball which eventually ended in Seigle's hot hands. Seigle drilled a triple that gave the beermen an 83-82 edge with 1:46 left, a minute later, Seigle drive through the realtors' defense for an 87-83 lead with 21.2 seconds remaining.[4]
Dennis Espino and Paolo Mendoza took charge in the final quarter with import Ansu Sesay unable to elude the beermen's sticky defense. The realtors limited the beermen to just eight points in the fourth period.
Danny Ildefonso and Danny Seigle delivered the killing blows on the realtors, scoring a lay-in and a three-pointer in the closing seconds in a nail-biting victory. Rookie Paolo Mendoza of Sta.Lucia, who kept his team within striking distance in the third period with his fiery outside shooting, pegged the final score with a triple. Danny Ildefonso won his second back to back Finals MVP and San Miguel captures win on 2 peat back to back champs 13th title.[5]
