Gins, Beermen shoot for finals

Coaching staffs of San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra under American mentor Ron Jacobs can be considered a closely-knit family. They share views and ideas, sometimes plot strategies together and some other times even scout games sitting in one row in any playing venue.

However, chances are big Jacobs will take a leave of absence for a moment, leaving proteges Jong Uichico and Allan Caidic as they figure in a duel which can’t be avoided.

Only one more mistake by Shell and Pop Cola tonight may well pave the way for what could become a May mayhem in the Philippine Basketball Association, featuring league darlings Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer in the All-Filipino Cup finals.

Now both 2-1 up versus their respective rivals in the best-of-five semifinal round, the Gin Kings and the Beermen take their first of two cracks at arranging a duel of sister teams as action shifts back to the Philsports Arena.

Ginebra and Shell clash at 5:15 p.m., then San Miguel and Pop Cola collide at 7:30.

The two SMC franchises have figured in a title showdown only once when the Beermen took the third conference crown at the expense of the Kings — then playing under the Anejo Rum 65 banner — to complete a grandslam season.

Jacobs, coaching consultant of both San Miguel and Ginebra, said he’ll gladly take a vacation if the two teams end up disputing the All-Filipino crown. He did the same as the Kings and the Beermen figured in a quarterfinals matchup in the Commissioner’s Cup last year.

Caidic and Uichico promise to go for the clincher tonight with both believing the complexion of the series will dramatically change if they allow their rivals to gain another day to live.

"If Pop Cola takes Game Four, hindi lang nila maitatabla ang series kung hindi para na rin silang makalalamang dahil mapupunta na sa kanila ang momentum going into Game Five," said Uichico, whose Beermen grabbed a 2-1 lead over the Pop Cola Panthers following an 82-75 decision Sunday.

"We have bungled our first crack at winning the series. We still have two chances for the victory but I think we need to take it Wednesday. Otherwise, ma-pre-pressure na kami," said Caidic, whose Kings were stalled by the Turbochargers, 87-113, also Sunday.