Cyrus Baguio of Alaska finds it a tall order to shoot over Barangay Ginebra’s Chris Daniels in their PBA quarterfinal playoffs last Wednesday. Such defense helped Ginebra beat Alaska, 91-87, to keep their hopes alive. (Photo by TONY PIONILLA)

Games Friday (Cuneta Astrodome)
5 p.m. — Alaska vs Ginebra
7:30 p.m. — Rain or Shine vs B-Meg Derby Ace

After getting a new lease on life, Barangay Ginebra tries to tie its series with Alaska Milk while Rain or Shine goes for the clincher against B-Meg Derby Ace this Friday in Game 4 of the 2010 PBA Fiesta Conference quarterfinals at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

The Kings, led by a 20-point performance from JC Intal, staved off elimination by downing the Aces, 91-87, while the Elasto Painters drew a superb game from Sol Mercado in overtime to trounce the Llamados, 117-111, and grab a 2-1 lead in their own series.

Ginebra and Alaska clash at 5 p.m. while Rain or Shine and B-Meg Derby Ace collide in the main game at 7:30 p.m.

The Aces still lead in their series, 2-1, but they have to figure out a way to stop the Kings from tying the series.

If not, they will be in danger of suffering the fate of Talk ’N Text which blew a similar 2-0 lead against the Kings.

Intal, who logged only a total of 14 minutes in the first two games of the series, came through with 12 points in the third to help the crowd darlings take a commanding 72-58 lead before preventing the Aces from making a last ditch comeback.

"It's a gamble that we had to take," said coach Jong Uichico, when asked why he turned to Intal in a crucial stretch. "And JC just had that confidence to make those shots."

Import Chris Daniels had 19 points and 10 boards while former Most Valuable Players Jayjay Helterbrand and Eric Menk added 16 and 12 points, respectively.

“It’s great that we extended this series and hopefully we get another win on Friday, which is another do-or-die for us,” said Uichico.

Ginebra seeks to repeat the feat it did during the previous Philippine Cup when it rallied from a 0-2 deficit to oust Talk N’ Text in a controversial quarterfinals series.

Aside from Ginebra, only Crispa and Purefoods managed to come back from a similar deficit to win a best-of-five series.