Philippine Sports News and Updates

MANILA, Philippines - Seasoned in the rigors of gut-wrenching championship runs, Barangay Ginebra coach Jong Uichico couldn’t be lulled into believing they have firm control of the best-of-seven title showdown with San Miguel Beer after their impressive Game One triumph.

“It’s just one win,” he said after the Gin Kings seized the momentum in the title clash with a 102-96 win Wednesday.

The Kings hope to keep the initiative as they go for a two-game-to-nil lead over the Beermen in the Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference final series at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Kings jumped the gun on the Beermen early and kept a searing pace on a fluid offense in pulling the rug from under the favored Beermen in the series opener.

Uichico said it’s the kind of fiery start the Kings need to be able to contain the explosive Beermen even as Ginebra braces for a possible fightback of its corporate rival in the second game at 7 tonight.

“We have to continue to find ways how to keep up with them. You know how talent-laden San Miguel is. They can be so overpowering that we need to exert extra effort,” Uichico added.

Preceding the keenly awaited second encounter in the series is the formal rites naming the Best Player of the Conference and Best Import awardees.

Ginebra top gun Jayjay Helterbrand is expected to win the BPC award while San Miguel’s Gabe Freeman is tipped to be named Best Import.

“We’re able to surprise them in Game One but the next game, for sure, will be another story,” said Uichico.

The Kings converted 40 percent of their shots from the three-point area and outperformed the Beermen on the offensive board to fuel a torrid assault boosting them to lead by as many as 18 points Wednesday.

“We shot pretty well at the start then our defense worked in the second half. We were able to maintain the pace of our offense when San Miguel started to get their streaks,” said Uichico.

San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen said poor defense led to their Game One defeat.

The youthful SMB mentor, however, promised they would be back with vengeance in a bid to even things up with the Kings.

The Beermen have yet to lose two games in a row in the conference.

“We’re not mentally prepared to play (in Game One), but we’ll be ready Friday,” said Tanquingcen.

Defense would be the Beermen’s main focus after letting the Kings shoot 40 percent from the three-point area and dominate the offensive board Wednesday.

“We’re not bothered by their fast-paced game. We can compete slow or fast. We just lost the discipline on defense,” said Tanquingcen.

“We let them convert 40 percent from the three-point area and get the offensive rebounds when they missed their shots. Our defense shouldn’t stop in having them miss their shots. We should only stop when we already get the ball,” Tanquingcen added.

Ginebra came out smoking, led by as many as 18 points and fended off a San Miguel rally at the finish with top gun Jayjay Helterbrand and five other Kings playing key roles in the series opener.

Helterbrand led all scorers with 21 points in a fine performance that could well further boost his bid for the Best Player of the Conference plum.