With key players, including Mark Caguioa still at sick bay, Barangay Ginebra coach Jong Uichico said the Kings were fortunate to win another game.

“We are just lucky to win the game,” Uichico said a day after Ginebra extended its winning streak to three with an 83-79 win over Burger King in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup road game presented by Phoenix Fuel at the Mindanao Civic Center in Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

The win improved the Kings’ win-loss record to 5-1, just half-game behind erstwhile unbeaten Alaska, which lost to Rain or Shine last Friday for its first setback after starting the all-Filipino conference with a 6-0 card.

Enrico Villanueva, who was acquired in the off-season via a three-team trade, had his best game so far with the Kings as he scored a personal conference high of 16 points to lead four Barangay Ginebra players in double figures.

However, its the troika of Ronald Tubid, Cyrus Baguio and Eric Menk who provided the telling blows in the final frame as the Kings hand BK its fifth setback in six games.

Baguio finished with 15 points, while Tubid added 14 and Menk had 13 markers.

Jayjay Helterbrand, the reigning Most Valuable Player, returned from a two-game absence but he was still obviously not 100 percent. He only scored six points, with a rebound and an assist in 23 minutes of action.

“We made timely baskets in the fourth quarter, that was the difference,” said Uichico, whose team will face Sta. Lucia Realty on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Rookie Ronnie Matias led the BK Whoppers with 12 points.

The 6-foot-1 Caguioa, who missed the previous season because of tendonitis, is still recovering from a knee injury.

Johnny Abarrientos, who previously retired in the off-season but made a comeback last week when he was reactivated by the Kings, still missed the game for the second straight time due to a cut in his left index finger.

Uichico is hoping that they can come back in time as the going gets tough with up coming matches not only against the Realtors but with the defending champion Talk ’N Text on Nov. 25 and Coca-Cola two days later.