Ginebra go for 2-0

By Arman Carandang

Ginebra San Miguel proved it is not out to show mercy on sister-team San Miguel Beer, and if Game One of the best-of-seven series in the Motolite-PBA Fiesta Conference were to gauge its intent, then the Gin Kings have a handsome chance of pulling the rug from under their highly touted rivals.

The Gin Kings won the opener of the finals showdown, 102-96 last Wednesday behind a big team effort which coach Jong Uichico considered as "the only way for his Kings to pose a real challenge against the Beermen."

"It is only through team effort that we can have chances of winning against a powerhouse team like San Miguel," said Uichico.

Carrying a big psychological edge in the series, fans now have a clear idea of how long it will go. And the Gin Kings want a 2-0 lead when they clash with the Beermen in Game Two at 7 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum.

Uichico, however, was quick to downplay their triumph.

"It’s just a win you know," said Uichico, obviously trying to avoid even a slight comment on their chances.

"We know what a powerhouse team like San Miguel is capable of doing. And that’s the reason why we still need to play night in and night out with extra effort," said Uichico, who is bidding to give the Gin Kings their ninth franchise title in the pro league.

Interestingly, Ginebra relied much on its plethora of small men that played alternately like scoring machines in Game One, practically causing SMB to grope for form.

"I think we have to make the necessary adjustment on our approach. We have to be mentally assertive," said SMB coach Siot Tanquincen.

Jay Jay Helterbrand, Cyrus baguio, Ronald Tubid, Paul Artadi are some of the relatively small guys in the Ginebra side who alternated well in offense and gave David Noel a big compliment.

Whether the star-studded San Miguel team has readied something for Helterbrand, who finished with 21 points built around four triples, on top of six rebounds and seven assists, will be the main focus in today’s game.

The Beermen are in their 29th finals stint, and are gunning for their 18th franchise title, ironically at the expense of the same team that beat them in the Philippine Cup finals in 2007 when the Beermen were still under Chot Reyes.

And if they are to level the series, the Beermen must find ways to draw support from other locals to match Ginebra’s explosive offense anchored on a number of shooters.