Beermen, Painters target 3-1 cushions

MANILA, Philippines - San Miguel Beer and Rain or Shine shoot for commanding 3-1 leads over Burger King and Barangay Ginebra, respectively, today, hoping to sustain their momentum for a possible title duel between the PBA’s winningest club and league newcomer.

The Beermen and the Elasto Painters try to move into the threshold of the Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference finale as they play the Whoppers and Gin Kings in Game Four of their respective best-of-seven semis series at the Araneta Coliseum.

Only two teams have been able to overcome a 1-3 deficit in a best-of-seven series.

But the Kings and the Whoppers hope they don’t fall into that hole as they go all out to even things out with their respective rivals and reduce the series into a pair of best-of-three affairs.

Ginebra is actually one of the two teams which fought back from a 1-3 deficit during the 1991 First Conference Finals. But coach Jong Uichico doesn’t want his wards to face the same task.

The reigning Fiesta Conference champions fell behind again in the series after an 88-94 defeat in Game Three after failing to match the intensity and firepower of a fired-up Rain or Shine squad.

“Desire and pride are what we have to bring in tomorrow’s game,” said Uichico, noting how his charges failed to get into the flow of the game like they did in a 95-101 loss in the series opener.

Rain or Shine took control of the game from the first quarter on by banking mainly on the basic play of Jai Lewis posting up and, if he gets double-teamed, passing off to an open teammate.

So complete was the Elasto Painters’ domination of the game they led by as many as 18 points, 62-44, in the third period.

Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia said they just have to continue doing what they’ve been doing right in the first three games to push Ginebra to the brink.

“We can’t be complacent against Ginebra. Everyone knows that Ginebra is a never-say-die team that’s been in this situation a lot of times before,” he said. “We have to do what we’ve been doing the first three games: Play as a team, both in offense and defense.”

Garcia thinks the Kings got a crucial break from the two-day rest.

“It’s in their favor. Ginebra, with coach Jong, is very good at making the adjustments. Coach Jong could have made the necessary adjustments during the break,” said Garcia.

Then there’s also the possibility of Eric Menk getting back in harness for the Kings. The Ginebra Fil-Am center missed the first three games of the series due to a calf muscle injury he suffered in practice.

Against lightweight defenders, Lewis has been getting huge numbers, averaging 17.0 points, 17.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists in the semis.

So far in the SMB-BK duel, the team that gains control early goes on to win the game.

“We can’t afford to let them get off to a fast start. Once they do, with their talent, it will be very hard to beat them,” said BK coach Yeng Guiao.

“We have to stay consistent on the defensive effort and maintain our patience on offense,” said SMB coach Siot Tanquingcen.