Former two-time Most Valuable Willie Miller came through with another superb performance as the Alaska Aces defeated title-favorite San Miguel Beer, 85-74, in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup Phoenix Fuel Saturday at the Panabo multi-purpose gym in Panabo City, Davao del Norte.

The 6-foot Miller fired 25 points and pulled down nine rebounds as Alaska, which made a conference-high 12 three-pointers, improved to 2-0 while SMB, picked as the one of the teams to beat this conference with its off-season build-up, dropped to 0-2.

It was a fitting follow-up to his third career triple-double showing in the team’s 99-83 win against Burger King.

Led by Miller, the Aces used a 16-6 run in the final eight minutes to finally unnerve the Beermen, who seemed lost despite their star-studded line-up.

It was the fifth straight loss for the reigning Fiesta Cup champions on the road since last season’s Philippine Cup. They were limited to only 28 points in the first half, the lowest in two seasons.

Alaska point guard LA Tenorio ably supported Miller by banging in 18 points.

San Miguel got 15 points apiece from Dondon Hontiveros and Arwind Santos, one of the two players picked via trades during the break, while Dorian Peña added 13 markers.

In his second game back after missing the previous conference due to back injury, Danny Seigle scored just six points.

The Beermen lost to the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 86-98, in their season-debut last Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Meanwhile, Burger King point guard Wynne Arboleda will appear today at the PBA Commissioner’s Office to air his side of the story after mauling a Smart-Gilas national team fan during their game last Friday.

Arboleda, who is expected to get heavy fines and suspension, and the Burger King management, led by team representative and PBA chairman Lito Alvarez, already made a public apology on the matter, including to the victim, Alain Katigbak.

The incident happened with six minutes left in the second period of the Whopper’s 115-105 victory over Gilas.

Arboleda admitted that he lost his composure after hearing invectives directed at him and other Burger King players.

Katigbak was at the special ringside section across the Whopper’s bench.

So furious was Arboleda, son-in-law of Burger King majority owner Bert Lina, that he kicked Katigbak on the stomach and hit him four times with his fist.

The victrim reportedly filed charges against Arboleda at Station 7 of the Central Police District (CPD).

The incident was similar to what happed in the Fiesta Cup where Sta. Lucia Realty’s Marlou Aquino had an altercation with Indian national Jitesh Gidwani shortly after Game 2 of the Fiesta Cup quarterfinals series between the Realtors and the BK Whopper.

In the best-of-seven Finals, San Miguel’s Danny Ildefonso and Marc Pingris charged at another fan. In both incidents, the players were fined and suspended.