After three quarters of storm whipped up by the Aces fizzled out in the fourth period, Miller, a second-game acquisition, came through with one last cloudburst that decisively left the drenched Sta. Lucia Realtors out in the cold.

With the Realtors threatening to turn yesterday’s deadly tropical depression into a harmless summer drizzle, coming back from 22 points down, Miller drained an open baseline jumper and a free throw to shelter Alaska, his third team in six years, under a 98-91 win in the Gran Matador-PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Sports Center.

The Aces checked a two-game slide with their seventh win against the same number of losses, fortifying their bid for an outright quarterfinal berth.

Nothing much except pride was dented in the Realtors, meanwhile, as they absorbed their 11th loss in 14 games, leaving them firmly at the foot of standings as they reserve strength for the tough wildcard phase of the elimination round.

Alaska is no longer in contention for an outright semifinal berth, but is protecting its post going to the best-of-5 quarterfinals where teams ranked third, fourth and fifth after the ongoing classification phase will do battle.

And Sta. Lucia, a golf course away from grabbing an outright seat in the semifinals and the quarterfinals, is biding its time as it awaits the single round wildcard phase where teams ranked sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth will dispute the fourth and last quarterfinal spot.

The Aces had the Realtors gasping with an early downpour, with Nick Belasco scoring 12 points and Sonny Thoss 10 in the first quarter where a 19-6 start opened a 31-16 lead.

Alaska shot 13 for 23 from the field in the first 12 minutes.

The advantage was 46-33 at the half and 77-57 at the end of three quarters.

Then came the goggled Marlou Aquino, braving the winds with 25 points on 11-of-15 shooting, 12 coming in the fourth, with Norman Gonzales adding 10, as the Realtors sloshed back 91-88.

But Miller, following a dismal debut against the Air21 Express two nights ago, came through with a 16-footer in front of the Aces bench and then added a foul shot, dunking underwater Sta. Lucia’s rally.

Sta. Lucia was mauled under the basket 60-34, with Belasco grabbing 14 rebounds and Reynel Hugnatan collaring 10.