Though fly half David Flanagan was named man-of-the-match, the real star was Wales under-21 flanker Rhys Shellard, who scored two tries; was twice halted inches short and whose tackling sent the Wizards back yards on several occasions.
Only superb last-ditch tackles by fly half Jamie Davies and full back Liam Gadd kept Aberavon in the game, but the try by replacement wing Jason Pocock just on the interval was a killer blow and left wing Richard Fussell and Shellard(twice) scored the other Ponty tries with Flanagan kicking 13 points.
Aberavon never gave in and scored tries by wing Daran Griffiths and No 8 Richard Morris late on, with Davies having placed a penalty in the first half that had opened the scoring.
The match ended Aberavon 13 Pontypridd 33. Ponty will face Llanelli, who outgunned Bridgend 20-10 in the Millennium Stadium Final on May 7.