Game Today (Araneta Coliseum)
7:00 p.m. — San Miguel vs Ginebra (Game 6)

Defending champion Barangay Ginebra goes for its ninth championship against San Miguel Beer in Game 6 of their title series in the PBA Fiesta Cup Wednesday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

Ginebra defeated San Miguel, 106-98, Monday to take a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven title series.

Kings coach Jong Uichico, however, knows it won’t be easy.

“You’d like to be up 3-2, but we know what San Miguel is capable of doing,” said Uichico, who won six titles with SMB before joining Ginebra prior to the 2006-07 Season.

“We know that (Wednesday) will be a hell of a game, in a sense that ilalabas na nila lahat ng makakaya nila, and syempre kami din ilalabas din namin lahat ng makakaya,” he added.

Ginebra’s success, according to Uichico, hinges in part on how import David Noel performs against his San Miguel counterpart Gabe Freeman.

The sweet-shooting Noel was brilliant the last time, scoring 13 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter that stopped San Miguel in its tracks. He also had 11 rebounds, four steals, three steals and a shot block.

The Kings started poorly this season with Mark Caguioa, Junthy Valenzuela, Eric Menk, and Rafi Reavis sidelined by various injuries. Only Menk and Reavis managed to return and contributed greatly to Ginebra’s cause.

Juts three days ago, newly-crowned MVP Jayjay Helterbrand was reported to be day-to-day after pulling his right hamstring late in Game 4 which the Beermen won, 108-106. But he surprised everybody when he started in Game 5 and finished with 9 points.

Ginebra blew an 18-point third quarter lead in Game 5 (62-44) when San Miguel came within 68-69 on a Jonas Villanueva jumper.

But Menk, Ronald Tubid, and Noel joined hands in a 16-4 run that gave them an 85-72 lead.

San Miguel coach Siot Tanguincen is not about to raise the white flag.

“We dug a hole so deep that we hurt ourselves,” said Tanquingcen. “I’m still very optimistic about it. God gave us this opportunity to be here, I mean, most of the eight teams would kill just to be right here.”

“There’s nothing to feel down about, they need one game; we need one. So we just have to make sure we do things right coming into the game and then go from there,” he added.

To force a winner-take-all Game 7, the Beermen must play tougher defense against Ginebra and for import Gabe Freemen, the Best Import winner, to stay out of foul trouble after he fouled out late in Game 5.