SAN MIGUEL GETS BACK AT GINEBRA, SERIES TIED 1 - 1

Beaten on defense and on rebounding in the series opener, San Miguel Beer turned the tables on Barangay Ginebra Friday, pulling even in the second game of the Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference best-of-seven finale at the Araneta Coliseum

The Beermen got back at the Kings, 95-78, in a game with an ugly finish seeing Danny Ildefonso and Marc Pingris attack a heckling fan at the gallery.

The two SMB players are likely to get stiff sanction because of the incident. They're summoned to appear at the PBA office Saturday morning.

"The lesson we got is that we really have to keep our composure whatever the situation is. We can't show any mental weakness. We have to be strong every step of the way. It's a given that they would have the crowd on their side," said SMB coach Siot Tanquingcen.

For the Beermen, it's a sorry finish to a splendid showing.

The Beermen fought with limitless energy and enthusiasm, overcoming limited minutes played by import Gabe Freeman because of fouls.

"Basically, we just came out more prepared tonight," said Tanquingcen.

"We're mentally prepared and obviously we're able to defend better. We were badly beaten in rebounding in Game One and that's one concern we made sure to take care of," Tanquingcen added.

The Beermen dominated the boards, cashing in heavily on offensive rebounds.

Freeman came through with 23 points and 17 rebounds though playing in and out after picking a fourth foul early and Jay Washington, Marc Pingris and Dondon Hontiveros had their contributions as the Beermen rebounded strong from a 96-102 defeat Wednesday.

The Beermen established control on a 17-6 attack in the first half and went on to dominate the Kings all the way to the finish.

SMB lorded it over the boards, grabbing 57 rebounds to Ginebra's 40. And even with Freeman on the bench, the Beermen got the rebounds.

Pingris pulled down two offensive rebounds leading to back-to-back three-point plays that sparked an attack, breaking the Kings' back at 90-76.

Jay Washington knocked in three triples and a total of 17 points while Freeman added 12 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two blocks as the Beermen took the half at 50-44.

As in Game One, Paul Artadi got the Kings to a quick start but the Beermen managed to make the right adjustments early, seizing control in the second period.

The Beermen unravelled a 17-6 run bridging the first two quarters to surge ahead at 25-22.

The two teams figured in a fierce shootout midway through the second period highlighted by an exchange of electrifying slams from David Noel and Freeman.

The Ginebra import drove through the middle and executed a two-handed jam then his SMB counterpart answered with a right-handed throw-down off an alley-oop pass by Mike Cortez. Both plays drew tremendous applause from the crowd.

The Beermen led by 11 at 44-33 but the Kings drew within six at the turn on an 11-6 closing run by Artadi and Ronald Tubid.

Artadi capped his 11-point first-half production with a three-pointer then Tubid scored all of Ginebra's last eight points in the second quarter. (NC)

The scores:

San Miguel 95 -- Freeman 23, Washington 17, Pingris 14, Hontiveros 14, Villanueva 8, Ildefonso 6, Racela 4, Pennisi 4, Pena 3, Cortez 2, Eman 0, Gonzales 0, Calaguio 0.

Ginebra 78 -- Noel 20, Helterbrand 15, Tubid 12, Artadi 11, Baguio 7, Reavis 5, Mamaril 3, Salvacion 3, Menk 2, Lanete 0, Intal 0.

Quarterscores: 20-22, 50-44, 71-64, 95-78

SOURCE: http://www.pba.ph/topstories/san-miguel-gets-back-ginebra-series-tied-1-1