Alaska’s import Diamon Simpson (left) tries to block a shot of San Miguel’s Gabe Freeman in Game 5 of their PBA Fiesta Cup Finals last Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum. The Beermen won, 96-94, to extend their best-of-seven series. (Photo by MICHAEL VARCAS

Substitute San Miguel Beer coach Gee Abanilla will again handle the Beermen in Game 6 of the PBA Fiesta Cup Finals against Alaska this Wednesday with the team hoping that his magic touch will tie the best-of-seven title series at the Araneta Coliseum.

San Miguel management made the shocking move of benching its regular coach Siot Tanquingcen during last Sunday’s Game 5 and the gamble paid off as the Beermen, guided by Abanilla, who is one of Tanquingcen’s several assistant coaches, responded with a nail-biting 96-94 win to stave off elimination.

The win was as shocking as the sudden coaching replacement and most likely caught Alaska by surprise which could have won the title with a victory.

But the Aces still lead the best-of-seven title showdown, 3-2, although some have given San Miguel the momentum going to Game 6 which is still match point for Alaska.

It was the second time that San Miguel placed Tanquingcen on the bench in the middle of a tournament. Before Abanilla, ex-PBA player Ato Agustin, also an assistant coach, handled the Beermen twice in the classification phase.

San Miguel Corporation’s chief for basketball operations Robert Non said Abanilla will continue to handle the team on Wednesday, apparently happy that his surprise move paid off.

“You may say that it’s a sort of ‘pahiyang’,” Non said. “But consider it as on-the-job training (for assistant coaches), which is part of our program to further enhance the skills of our coaching staff.”

Abanilla said there was nothing new in the way he handled the Beermen, adding that he used the same playbook Tanquingcen had been using.

The only change, if one could call it that way, he said was in giving more minutes to reserve guard Denok Miranda and back-up center Mic Pennisi.

Miranda had 12 points, five assists, and he helped limit Alaska’s premiere point guard LA Tenorio to only 10 points on 4-of-11 shooting. Pennisi added nine points on 3-of-4 shooting from three-point territory.

“We know (Alaska) coach Tim Come is a brilliant coach, we expect him to make adjustments. But this is more mental than technical. The coach who can bring the best out from his players will have a big advantage in winning Game 6,” he added.

Cone was the first to admit they were outplayed by San Miguel, but he’s confident they can bounce back and close out the series this Wednesday.