Race to Last Dance starts all over again

MANILA, Philippines - The protagonists in the Motolite PBA Fiesta Cup Final Four start their duels anew today at the Araneta Coliseum, bracing for a more heated battle as they gun for the go-ahead win in the two separate semifinal series.

It’s San Miguel Beer versus Burger King at 4 p.m. then Ginebra San Miguel against Rain or Shine at 6:30 p.m. in the third play date of the semis.

All four teams were back in the drawing board yesterday after splitting the first two games of the best-of-seven series.

The Beermen and the Kings, the teams fancied to make the Last Dance, have fully realized their semis showdowns with the Whoppers and the Elasto Painters won’t be a walk in the park.

BK got back at San Miguel, 116-113, Friday while Rain or Shine stunned Ginebra, 101-95, Wednesday then threatened to repeat Friday.

Ginebra import David Noel admitted “we’re just lucky to pull through (in Game Two).”

San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen, meanwhile, does expect a tough series while ranged against BK coach Yeng Guiao with his vast experience.

Guiao and Rain or Shine mentor Caloy Garcia, on the other hand, bank on their teams’ will, determination and hard work.

The Whoppers and the Painters are aware they couldn’t simply outclass their talent-laden rivals and work to keep the game close and pull the feat off at endgame.

That’s what happened as BK and Rain or Shine pulled one over SMB and Ginebra.

“We would not win by a big margin against San Miguel. We just want to hang around and see what happens at endgame. If we hang around long enough, we would have our chance to win at endgame,” said Guiao.

 “The longer the series goes, the better our chance to win it. And having won one game, our confidence is back. With our confidence back, I think we can play better the next game,” Guiao added.

“Despite a depleted lineup, we’re still hopeful we can compete. We just need to help each other and gut it out on the floor,” said Garcia.

Ginebra coach Jong Uichico said they’ve yet to figure out what is the Painters doing.

 “It’s hard to explain we’re dominating the game but we just couldn’t put them away,” said Uichico.

“They just kept on coming back. They would hit timely shots when we’re trying to blow the game open. We have to get over this,” Uichico added.