2010-11 PBA: SMB ousts Ginebra, sets finals date with TNT

Monday, 17 January 2011 17:21 Diego de la Paz

Arwind Santos bounced back from a forgetful blowout loss for his best game of the series in San Miguel Beer's closeout match in Game 6 of their 2010-11 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup semi-final on Sunday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Beermen slammed the door on Barangay Ginebra, 89-86, to win the series 4-2 and advance to the Philippine Cup finals for the first time since the 2006-07 season where they lost to the Gin Kings in six games.

The 6-foot-4 former 2nd overall draft choice by Air21 scored a team-high 25 points with 7 rebounds. He was followed by Dondon Hontiveros, who finished with 17 points for the Beermen.

Just like in their last game, San Miguel came out firing off the blocks before Ginebra made a 13-0 run behind Rudy Hatfield's 7 points to take a 28-19 lead heading into the final minute. Mark Caguioa silently inserted 9 points to spark their furious mid-first period run.

But Jay Washington and an under the weather Alex Cabagnot, who was booed by the Ginebra faithful everytime he held the leather, capped the quarter with a 4-0 spurt to keep the game within five, 28-23, after one quarter.

Things started to get rough for the combatants, with double technical fouls assessed on Barangay Ginebra's Mark Caguioa and San Miguel's Alex Cabagnot for trash talking. A few plays after, Rudy Hatfield got slapped with a "T" for second motion, changing the complexion of the game and allowing the Ato Agustin-mentored ballclub to seize control.

Both teams traded baskets throughout the quarter, with neither team being able to pull away and only having a lead no bigger than four points.

The game was tied at 46-all through the last 30 seconds of the ballgame, until a review of Willie Miller's trey at the 3:04 mark was ruled as a two pointer. Hence, a slim one point advantage was given to the Beermen at the half, 46-45.

Ronald Tubid came alive in the third period, scoring 12 points, including a perfect 4-for-4 from the field, including a near-four point play conversion and drawing Arwind Santos' 4th foul early in the quarter, to kickstart a furious third period for the "never say die" squad seeking to live another day. He finished with 19 points and 7 rebounds.

However, the Beermen answered back with balanced scoring and by matching Ginebra shot-for-shot to keep the game knotted at 67 after three periods.

But as they have proven all season long, San Miguel has the edge when the game gets close.

With the game tied at 82 with less than a minute remaining, the 6-foot-0 Cabagnot sank a calm trey from the left wing to give San Miguel a three point lead, 85-82, with 49.7 seconds remaining. However, former PBA MVP Eric Menk muscled his way into the lane and completed a three point play on a Danny Ildefonso foul to knot the game for the last time at 85.

Then, by luck or fate, a Danny Ildefonso airball from beyond 20 feet landed into the hands of an awaiting Jay Washington, who scored on a reverse layup to give a slim 87-85 lead to the Beermen.

Ginebra had their chances, though: Menk fumbled the ball on the offensive end in the following possession, Arwind Santos made only half of the four free throws given to him on duty fouls by Menk and Willie Miller, and the team was unable to box out Santos after Caguioa blatantly missed his second free throw to secure the ball and a chance to tie the ballgame.

In a losing campaign to cap their Philippine Cup stint, Mark Caguioa led the Gin Kings with 21 points. Rudy Hatfield reinforced their inside game with 12 points with 6 of his total of 9 rebounds on the offensive glass.

Rookie head coach Ato Agustin will get his first shot in his first try to lead the team that defined his playing career to the coveted Philippine Cup title. Previously, he led the San Sebastian Golden Stags to victory in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men's basketball tournament in his first year as head coach in Season 85.

Waiting on the wings are the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters, who ended B-Meg Derby Ace's title retention run with an identical 4-2 series win.

UPCOMING GAME
January 22, 2011 (Saturday) - Victorias City
6:00pm - Talk 'N Text vs. San Miguel (Finals Game 1)

BOX SCORES
SAN MIGUEL 89 - Santos 25, Hontiveros 17, Washington 12, Cabagnot 11, Seigle 8, Artadi 6, Ildefonso 4, Racela 3, Peña 3, Salvacion 0, Pennisi 0
GINEBRA 86 - Caguioa 21, Tubid 19, Hatfield 12, Menk 11, Cortez 10, Villanueva 7, Intal 2, W. Wilson 2, Miller 2, J. Wilson 0, Aquino 0
Quarters: 23-28, 46-45, 67-67, 89-86

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