Reynel Hugnatan picked the right time to shine as he carried the Alaska Aces to a 113-109 double overtime victory over San Miguel Beer last night that wrapped up their best-of-seven series at the Araneta Coliseum.

With Alaska's main men either fouled out or in foul trouble, the center from Talisay City, Negros Occidental bailed out the Aces, drawing an offensive foul, hauling crucial rebounds and delivering clutch baskets that enabled the Uytengsu franchise to advance to its 21st finals appearance.

Alaska will face Talk N' Text in the best-of-seven finals starting Wednesday, after the Phone Pals, buoyed by Mark Cardona's career-high 40 points, drubbed Red Bull, 122-110 to win their series, 4-2.

Hugnatan scored five of his 16 points in the second overtime, where teammate and another former Negros Slasher John Ferriols came through with two important lay-ups to keep the Beermen at bay.

But more than his offense, Hugnatan drew the sixth fouls of San Miguel import Galen Young and Danny Ildefonso and denied LA Tenorio a basket when he positioned himself well to force a charging foul from the former Ateneo guard. That draw-charge play turned the game around for the Aces because it would have given Tenorio an opportunity for a three-point play.

Instead, it led to Dale Singson's two free throws that sealed the win for the Aces with 8.3 seconds left.

In the end of the close to three-hour match, Hugnatan also collared a career-high 17 rebounds to share the limelight with Rosell Elis, who bucked foul trouble for a game-high 34 points, and Willie Miller (20 points, five assists).

The Beermen almost did forge a decider after grabbing a 92-89 advantage with 3.6 seconds left in regulation, only for the Aces to have Singson come in and bury a triple that forced the first extension.

Young, who finished with nine points, 13 rebounds, forged a 100-all deadlock in the last 40 seconds of overtime and both teams missed their respective tries at an outright game-winner.

SMB, which won Game 4 128-106 last Friday and seemed well on its way to another victory after taking a 76-65 lead early in the fourth period. But foul troubles on Young and Ildefonso told heavily on the Beermen's bid.*CPT

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