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Gin Kings face Beermen in do-or-die Sunday

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 01/11/2009 5:24 PM

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Ginebra San Miguel is set to don its war face on when it clashes with sister team San Miguel Beer Sunday night in a deciding quarter finals match in the 2008-09 KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome.  

The score is an even 1-1 for both teams as the Gin Kings survived the Beermen, 91-88, in Game 2 of their best-of-three showdown last Friday.

The clash between the sister teams is set at 6 pm.

The winner of the quarterfinals series will face Talk ‘N Text in a best-of-seven semifinal duel.

The other semifinal match has already been arranged when defending champions Sta. Lucia Realty swept Rain or Shine in Game 2 with a 92-85 win for the right to face semifinalist Alaska Aces.

Sta. Lucia’s semifinal date with Alaska will begin on Wednesday.

The Elasto Painters missed the services of prized top pick Gabe Norwood as they failed to outgun the Realtors. 

Ronald Tubid led the Gin Kings last Friday as he posted four of Ginebra’s last six in the 63 seconds before the regulation.

Tubid’s charge proved to be enough to block the Beermen's last hurrah after being down by as much as 18 in the game.

"We live for another day and paulit-ulit nating sinasabi ito but I really have to give the credit to the players. They did not give up this time," said an exhausted Ginebra coach Jong Uichico.

"With all the adversities and disadvantages we have, the players did not quit at talagang fighting heart ang nagdala sa amin sa game na ito. They have the will to win tonight," he added.

Tubid finished with 19 points while Eric Menk and Jayjay Helterbrand added 15 markers each for the Kings, who dropped a close 78-77 decision in Game 1 last Wednesday.

The win also negated Dondon Hontiveros' career-high 35 points.

Sta. Lucia’s Joseph Yeo and Dennis Espino, meanwhile, had 19 points apiece against Rain or Shine. Ryan Reyes chipped in 17 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.

"At least we are now given a chance to defend our crown," said SLR head coach Boyet Fernandez. "Alaska is the top defensive team and we're No. 3 so we expect a defensive battle in the series."

SLR ended the magical run of the Elasto Painters, who played without Norwood, because of a one-game suspension meted by the league for his flagrant foul 2 on Bitoy Omolon in their series opener.

The Realtors became the only defending All-Filipino champion team to make it to the Final Four in the last four Philippine Cups. They are trying to become the first team to defend the All-Filipino title since Great Taste did the trick in 1984 and 1985.