Kings brace for Finals duel with Beermen

Too much power and too many weapons in so organized a team.

That's what San Miguel Beer displayed to the fullest in handing Burger King a 118-103 whopping last Sunday evening to secure the second finals berth in the Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

It took some time before the Beermen were able to unleash the full might of their well-stocked arsenal. But when they did they were simply unstoppable in their bid to close out the best-of-seven semifinal series in six games and realize a league-best 29th finals appearance.

The Beermen forged a return finals duel with the defending champion Ginebra Kings, who earlier bundled out the Elasto Painters 108-100 and also closed out their own series via a 4-2 count.

It will be the fourth finals duel between the sister teams and Tanquingcen was quick to say fans will be in for another treat.

"It's gonna be an exciting series. It's something different from our battle with Burger King," said Tanquingcen, a former assistant to Ginebra coach Jong Uichico when the Kings beat the Chot Reyes-mentored SMB team for the 2006-07 Philippine Cup title.

Things will be drastically different now.

"This is something new because I'm up with coach Jong for the first time in the finals. I enjoy playing against them kasi pagi-isipin ka ni coach Jong, kaya I look forward to playing them," said Tanquingcen, adding neither team has a clear edge.

"I would not say na dehado kami. You have to deal with Ginebra. It's going to be a different feeling now and I'm sure ganoon din sila sa amin," he stated, before pointing out what should be a major factor in the "Last Dance."

"The key is gonna be guys being free from any injuries."

Gabe Freeman dished out a double-double job with 26 points and 14 rebounds and four locals had at least 14 points each as the Beermen broke the game wide open in the third quarter to lead by as many as 20 points thrice, the last at 92-72.

Due to foul trouble, Freeman was on the bench for majority of the period.

But SMB turned to Danny Ildefonso and Jonas Villanueva in leading their attack that resulted in the Beermen rattling off 39 points against BK's 22.

With nobody among them able to fully step up and take charge, the Whoppers would come no closer than 15 points the rest of the way as they settled for a one-game playoff with Rain or Shine for third place. Noli Cortez - Malaya Online Edition

SOURCE: http://www.ngetstudio.com/Barangay_Ginebra_Kings/news/?id=7b3ade83-25f3-45bb-a7e1-9039eefade40

Ginebra books return trip to Fiesta Cup finals

MANILA, Philippines – Barangay Ginebra finished off Rain or Shine with a 108-100 win in Game 6 Sunday night to earn a return trip to the finals of the PBA Fiesta Cup.

The defending champions held the Elasto Painters’ import Jai Lewis to just six points in his lowest output in the semis as the Kings clinched the best-of-seven series, 4-2.

“We really had a hard time against them (Elasto Painters)," said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico, who will be seeking to nail down his ninth PBA title and the third with the Gin Kings. “They really pushed us to the limit, forcing us to play above our normal game."

Ginebra will try to defend its crown it won against then Air21 last season. The Gin Kings triumphed in that series 4-3.

They await the winner of the other semifinal duel between San Miguel and Burger King, where the Beermen enjoy a 3-2 lead.

Ronald Tubid and import David Noel each had 23 points and 10 rebounds, and Jay-Jay Helterbrand and Paul Artadi chipped in 17 points apiece in a balanced offensive where only one Ginebra player – Willy Wilson – failed to score.

TY Tang scored a career-high 24 points and virtual Rookie of the Year Gabe Norwood added 22 for the Elasto Painters, who fought as hard as they could even with Lewis struggling big time from the floor.

Lewis was held down to merely 2-for-6 shooting and pulled down 12 rebounds. He had very limited touches and was often triple-teamed when he got hold of the leather. He made his first field goal with 4:46 left in the fourth period when Ginebra was ahead comfortably, 98-85.

“Our defense on Lewis was the key," said Uichico. “It was a team effort.

"Still, Rain or Shine didn’t go out without a fight. It managed to threaten Ginebra at 83-79 with 11:11 to go in the fourth quarter, before the Gin Kings detonated a 15-6 bomb where Noel, Cyrus Baguio and Sunday Salvacion each had a triple.

That run carried Ginebra to a comfortable 98-85 lead, and the Elasto Painters could get no closer than 102-97 on a triple from Tang with 57 seconds remaining. - GMANews.TV

The Scores:

Ginebra 108 - Noel 23, Tubid 23, Artadi 17, Helterbrand 17, Reavis 8, Salvacion 6, Mamaril 5, Baguio 5, Lanete 3, Intal 1, Wilson 0.

Rain or Shine 100 - Tang 24, Norwood 22, Arana 15, Ibanes 11, Reyes 11, Lewis 6, Isip 6, Laure 5, Dulay 0, Wainwright 0.

Quarter scores: 31-21, 60-53, 81-76, 108-100

SOURCE: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/166134/Ginebra-books-return-trip-to-Fiesta-Cup-finals

GUNS ABLAZE, GINEBRA DRUBS RoS

Kings move a win fom Finals

Barangay Ginebra picked up from where it left off Wednesday, outclassing Rain or Shine for the second straight game for a 96-85 win and the 3-2 lead in their own side of the Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference best-of-seven semifinals series at the Araneta Coliseum Friday.

The Kings established control early and sustained the charge, making it two in a row versus the Elasto Painters to move a win shy of a return stint in the reinforced conference finale.

The reigning champions go for the clincher in Game Six Sunday or, if still necessary, in Game Seven Wednesday.

"It's really been a tough series. Hopefully, we've got the right attitude now how to deal with this team and we can pull it through Sunday," said Ginebra coach Jong Uichico.

"I'm guessing that we're now playing Rain or Shine with the right frame of mind. At the start, human nature siguro na nagrelax konti ang mga players namin because we beat them twice in the elimination round. We beat them playing with an all-Filipino lineup in the first game then we routed them in the next," Uichico added.

The Kings stayed focused on the job at hand and played relentlessly for the second straight game Friday, winning it in a wire-to-wire fashion.

David Noel was at his best at least in this series, coming through with 28 points and 17 rebounds.
Ginebra walloped Rain or Shine with Noel outperforming Jai Lewis and the Ginebra locals doing the same against their Rain or Shine counterparts.

Jayjay Helterbrand led the locals with 19 points and emerged Best Player of the Game for the third time in the series. He won the honors in all their won games.

Ronald Tubid was another Ginebra player who finished in double figures, going 2-of-5 from the three-point area, 2-of-5 from the two-point zone and 3-of-3 from the stripe for 13 points.

Lewis, with only 15 points, already wound up as the Painters' top scorer.

"Playoffs are about adjustments. Mukhang nahirapan mag-adjust ang Rain or Shine in a day's break. That's why I'm really hoping we can finish it Sunday, baka maka-adjust pa sila," said Uichico.

The Kings jumped the gun on the Painters, taking the first quarter at 23-13 and the half at 49-34.

Ginebra dominated the opening half with a torrid shooting which Rain or Shine had no answer for.

Noel was 2-of-3 from the three-point area and 4-of-7 from the two-point zone with the entire team hitting at a 48.6-percent clip as against Rain or Shine's 32.6-percent marksmanship in the first half. (NC)

The scores:

Ginebra 96 -- Noel 28, Helterbrand 19, Tubid 13, Baguio 8, Artadi 7, Reavis 7, Lanete 4, Intal 3, Wilson 3, Salvacion 2, Se 2, Mamaril 0.

Rain or Shine 85 -- Lewis 15, Tang 13, Arana 12, Isip 11, Reyes 11, Norwood 8, Wainwright 7, Ibanes 3, Salangsang 3, Laure 2, Dulay 0, Andaya 0.

Quarterscores: 23-13, 49-34, 74-59, 96-85

SOURCE: http://www.pba.ph/topstories/guns-ablaze-ginebra-drubs-ros