MANILA -- San Miguel Beer escaped with a 106-104 win over Barangay Ginebra in Game 4 of the 2008-09 Motolite-PBA Fiesta Conference finals Wednesday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Beermen however had to watch Ronald Tubid and Chico Lanete miss their potential game-winning three-pointers before breathing a sign of relief and see the series levelled to 2-all.

San Miguel leaned on Gabe Freeman’s clutch baskets in the finals seconds of the game to survive Ginebra.

“This game could have gone either way. Both teams played well kaya kahit sino deserving manalo,” said San Miguel head coach Siot Tanquingcen.

Freeman had another solid game with 23 points and 21 rebounds and his crucial putback in the closing seconds took out the momentum from the Kings.

Danny Ildefonso, who came back after a one-game suspension, gave San Miguel 101-94 lead with a jumper with 2:51 remaining.

But Eric Menk, the Gin King’s hero in Game, anchored a swift 7-0 run to tie the game at 101-all with 37.6 ticks remaining.

Then Freeman scored on a putback to break the tie at 103-101 with 26.3 seconds left in the game.

Kings import David Noel had a chance to regain the lead for Ginebra as he was fouled in three-point territory. He, however, succumbed to pressure and missed all three charities.

Freeman extended their lead to 105-101 with two more free throws before Noel hit a three point bomber to move within one, 104-105, 10.7 ticks left.

Cyrus Baguio sent Mike Cortez to the foul line and the former La Salle guard halved his free throws, 106-104, with 9.7 seconds left to give Ginebra another shot to at least send the game into overtime.

Lanete opted for a game winner and fired a three-point attempt that only the rim. Tubid grabbed the offensive board and hoisted a rainbow shot that was way off as time expired.

“We just gave up too many offensive rebounds,” said Gin Kings mentor Jong Uichico, who 22 points each from Noel and Jayjay Helterbrand.

Game 5 is on Monday, 7 p.m. at the Big Dome.