Game Today (Araneta Coliseum)
7:00 p.m. – San Miguel vs Ginebra

San Miguel Beer shot better from the field, but Barangay Ginebra still came out a 102-96 winner Wednesday night in Game 1 of the Motolite-PBA Fiesta Cup championship series at the Araneta Coliseum.

The reason: The Kings dominated the boards and drained more three-point shots than the Beermen.

San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen said they have to improve their defense when the Beermen try to even the best-of-seven playoffs today at 7 p.m. also at the same venue.

Tanquingcen said the Beermen allowed the Kings to shoot 45 percent from the three-point range and got clobbered under the boards, yielding 20 rebounds off the offensive glass.

“They (Kings) had 20 offensive rebounds,” rued Tanquingcen. “The defense does not stop from them missing shots. The defense stops when we get the ball. We did not take care of that business.”

Tanquingcen, in this third Finals appearance, expects a better game from the Beermen.

“We’re not mentally in the game... mentally prepared. We’ll be more prepared in the next game,” vowed Tanquingcen.

A comeback is what the Kings are expecting from the Beermen in Game 2.

“Anything can still happen in this long series,” said SMB coach Jong Uichico. “We have our game plan. Let’s see if that plan works.”

The Kings had more attempts from the three-point arc, sinking 14 of 35 tries as against the Beermen’s 9-of -24 showing.

“I think we just shot pretty well (in Game 1). We’d like that situation kung makaka-una kami. But it’s not by design,” said Uichico who is eyeing a ninth crown in 12 championship stints.

“Maganda ‘yung first game, but of course we know it takes four games (to win) and we’re still a long way. With the talent of SMB, it’s just so overpowering. Basta may extra effort lang kami,” he added.

The Kings shot 33-of-81 (40.7 percent from the field while the Beermen converted 35-of-77 (45.5 percent) from the field.

Helterbrand led all scorers with 21 points on 4-of-9 shooting from the three-point area, while Cyrus Baguio added 17 markers.

Ronald Tubid had 14 points, including clutch baskets that preserved the win for the.

This actually the ninth time that SMC and Ginebra are facing off in the playoffs, includin g four in the finals.

The Beermen are the winningest ballclub in the PBA with 17 titles.

Meanwhile, a brief awarding will take place before the game as the PBA names the Best Player of the Conference, hotly-contested by Ginebra’s Jayjay Helterbrand, Burger King’s Arwind Santos, Asi Taulava of Coca-Cola, Jimmy Alapag of Talk ’N Text and SMB’s Dondon Hontiveros.

The Best Import award will also be announced with the Kings’ David Noel and the Gabe Freeman of the Beermen as the top contenders.

The Scores:
GINEBRA 102 — Helterbrand 21, Baguio 17, Tubid 14, Artadi 13, Noel 13, Salvacion 9, Lanete 5, Mamaril 4, Intal 2, Menk 2, Reavis 2.

SAN MIGUEL 96 — Washington 19, Villanueva 18, Freeman 16, Cortez 12, Hontiveros 11, Racela 7, Ildefonso 4, Pena 4, Pennisi 3, Pingris 2.

Quarters: 26-22, 53-41, 81-65, 102-96.