The title series between Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer in the PBA Fiesta Cup is fast turning into a game of adjustment.

One doesn’t have to be a rocket scientist to understand what the two coaches are doing in their best-of-seven series.

In Game 1, Ginebra coach Jong Uichico used the team’s quickness and torrid shooting from afar to beat coach Siot Tangquincen of San Miguel, 102-96.

Then in Game 2, it was Tanquingcen’s turn to make adjustment.  Exploiting their height advantage, the Beermen demolished the Kings, 95-78.

Uichico used a different tactic in Game 3, a combination of firepower and defense, and that proved successful as they scored an emphatic 116-103 victory for a 2-1 lead.

Banking on its brilliant transition plays, Ginebra exploded for 40 points in the fourth period, with import David Noel scoring 14 of his 32 points.

The high-leaping import had seven points in a 16-3 blast that gave them the lead for good, 96-85, with 6:32 to play.

Despite that, Uichico paid tribute to the team’s defensive job.

San Miguel played without Marc Pingris and Danny Ildefonso but with the two around, the Beermen stand no chance against the Kings.

Ildefonso, a two-time MVP, and Pingris, served a one-game suspension for attacking a fan.

The crucial point of the game was when Uichico, upon the suggestion of Jayjay Helterbrand, put Willie Wilson on the hot-shooting Jay Washington.

The strategy worked wonders for the Kings as the 6-foot-7 Fil-Am was held to just four points in the second half after sizzling for 18 in the first two quarters.

“We just got lucky we defended well in the second half, we got intensity,”

Uichico, who is hoping to give Ginebra its ninth title, and third under his guidance.

“We had to take advantage of that game, because if we had lost the game, with Danny I and Marc Pingris coming back (in Game 4), medyo mahirap. So it was very important.  Katakot-takot na problema na naman ’yung pagbalik nila.” he added.

Even Tanquingcen agreed that it was San Miguel’s defense on Washington that made the difference.

“Partly they were able to hold Jay,” said Tanquingcen, aiming to give his team championship No. 18, said. “But basically we shot ourselves in the foot. We can’t give up 40 points.  We can’t win by allowing a team score 40 in a quarter.”

“If we play our defense right, that’s not going to be an issue (scoring). But if we, as a unit, don’t defend, it’s going to be difficult for us,” he added.

Ginebra had also better shooting percentage from the field, making 39-of-78 or 50 percent, compared to SMB’s 41-of-86 or 47.7 percent. Although the Beermen controlled the boards, 49-39, the Kings forced their opponent to commit 27 turnovers, translating it to 19 points.