Kings sour up Mixers’ brew, level series at 1-1

Game today (MOA Arena)

3:30 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs Petron Blaze

MANILA, Philippines - Barangay Ginebra, beaten in a seesawing battle the last time, worked hard to build an early insurmountable lead last night and rammed hard at San Mig Coffee, 93-64, in Game Two of their PLDT MyDSL PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinal showdown played before a roaring crowd of close to 20,000 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Marc Pingris scored the game’s first basket from an interception by Mark Barroca -- a vivid reminder of how the Mixers stole Game One, 85-83.

But the Gin Kings won’t allow that to happen, establishing control right in the second quarter and pressing on to tie the series at a game apiece.

“We had a good adjustment, good start and good defense. It all came from the intensity we showed in this game,” said Ginebra coach Ato Agustin.

“We’re able to limit them in the 60s. It’s an indication of the effort we put up on defense. I think we surprised them as we played zone,” Agustin also said.

Ginebra matched up well with San Mig Coffee in this game with the pair of LA Tenorio and Emman Monfort – fielded together midway through the second period to take on Barroca and Justin Melton – providing the spark in a decisive second-quarter breakaway.

“It’s a good combination, giving us extra threat in this game,” said Agustin.

Tenorio set up Monfort for a trey to cap a key 20-8 second-quarter run giving Ginebra a 48-32 buffer at the half.

Mac Baracael rifled in a three-pointer then Greg Slaughter scored on a dish by Mark Caguioa at the start of the third quarter, and there’s no more stopping the Kings from coasting to the big victory.

San Mig started with a small starting five of Barroca, PJ Simon, James Yap, Pingris and Joe Devance then went big as Yancy de Ocampo came in to sub for Barroca.

The Mixers played big, small, big, small, then tried various combinations but just couldn’t get into the groove.

Tenorio, Monfort, Caguioa, Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar hit good strides together in the second quarter as the Gin Kings cut loose from a slim 28-24 lead.

The scores:

Ginebra 93 – Slaughter 21, Helterbrand 11, Tenorio 10, Mamaril 10, Reyes 8, Caguioa 8, Aguilar 7, Monfort 5, Ellis 4, Faundo 4, Baracael 3, Forrester 2, Ababou 0.

San Mig Coffee 64 – Simon 16, Pingris 15, Yap 14, Barroca 7, De Ocampo 3, Acuna 3, Mallari 3, Devance 2, Cawaling 1, Gaco 0, Sangalang 0, Melton 0, Holstein 0, Reavis 0.

Quarterscores: 24-19, 48-32, 69-53, 93-64