SERIES EVEN AS FIRED-UP GINEBRA DEALS SMB ANOTHER BEATING
Fast & Furious backcourt combo leads prolific Kings scoring paradeed rejoicing the individual triumph of Mark Caguioa for being named the Best Player of the Conference.
Ginebras remarkable effort in Game 4 led the Kings to new league records.
Ginebras total points went down as the highest in a game since its 1996 team defeated Mobiline, 149-122, in the eliminations of the Governors Cup on October 5.
It is also the highest output in a PBA Finals since Shell defeated Anejo, 156-134, in Game 3 of the 1990 First Conference.
Their total points in Games 3 and 4 also made the Kings the first team to score at least 130 points in successive Finals Games since Games 4 and 5 of the 1990 First Conference Finals between Anejo and Shell.
But we better expect the worst in Game 5. Im sure San Miguel will come out strong, Uichico said.
Caguioa finished with 25 points, Jayjay Helterbrand had 21 and Sunday Salvacion contributed 20 to underscore Ginebras superb shooting all evening. The Kings shot 55 percent (43-of-7
from the field while the Beermen hit 49 percent (39-of-79).
And with Rafi Reavis, Rudy Hatfield and Eric Menk asserting their dominance in the lane, the Kings again mugged the Beermen off the boards, 47-38.
I think Im doing a terrible job as a coach preparing the team, declared SMB coach Chot Reyes, visibly dejected following his teams back-to-back blowouts.
Just like in Game 3, the Beermen succumbed because they failed to match the Kings competitive fire.
After Dondon Hontiveros (20 points) gave the Beermen a 21-19 lead with 4:35 left in the opening quarter, the Kings starring Caguioa, Hatfield and Menk answered with a 13-3 run to give Ginebra a 32-24 lead at the end of the period. The Kings never trailed after that.
The scores:
Ginebra 146 Caguioa 25, Helterbrand 21, Salvacion 20, Menk 15, Hatfield 14, Abarrientos 11, Tubid 9, Macapagal 8, Mamaril 7, Reavis 7, Holper 5, Seigle 4.
San Miguel 111 Hontiveros 20, Seigle 18, Pena 18, Calaguio 15, Racela 10, Ildefonso 6, Adducul 5, Espinas 4, Tugade 4, Wilson 4, Gonzales 2.
Quarters: 32-24, 71-49, 116-78, 146-111.