Barangay Ginebra kept the momentum of its Game One win over Red Bull and took control practically throughout, repeating with a 111-104 win over the Bulls in Game Two of their Smart PBA Fiesta Conference Final Four showdown at the Araneta Coliseum.
Jayjay Helterbrand, Mark Caguioa and Chris Alexander all came through with a 20-point showing as the Kings stretched their franchise-record run to 10 games to gain a two-game lead in the best-of-seven semis series.
But despite his team’s dominating performance, Ginebra coach Jong Uichico was not ready to count Red Bull out.
“We had our battles in the past. I know coach Yeng Guiao’s character and I know the character of his team,” said Uichico.
“We’re in the same position in the All-Filipino finals last year as they’re now in this series. We’re able to survive and win the series then. The possibility of it happening again is always there. Of course, we don’t want it to happen now,” Uichico added.
Helterbrand fired six triples and finished with a total of 27 points, Caguioa contributed 24 points while Alexander put in 20 points and 18 rebounds to negate the career-best 34 points of Cyrus Baguio for Red Bull.
Alexander dominated Adam Parada once again, buckling down to work early to help set the tone of the game.
But the Bulls, however, put a better job last night, keeping the Kings from dominating the action as they did Sunday.