Japeth Aguilar of Barangay Ginebra is fouled by Joe Devance of San Mig Coffee during Game 3 of their PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series. Last night, Ginebra beat the Coffee Mixers in Game 4 to tie their series at 2-all. (INQUIRER PHOTO)
The Barangay Ginebra Kings squandered a 16-point third quarter lead but recovered in time to squeeze out a heart-pounding 85-82 win over the San Mig Coffee Mixers last night in Game 4 of their best-of-seven semifinals of the 39th PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
The hard-earned win prevented the Kings from falling to a deep 1-3 hole, tying the series at two games apiece to reduce the series into a best-of-three affair.
Ginebra built a 70-54 lead late in the third period and was still ahead big, 70-56 to start the fourth when they suffered a long scoring drought.
San Mig went on to steal the lead, 72-70, on a three-pointer by Justin Melton in the final 9:15.
San Mig even increased the lead to four, 76-72, but Eman Monfort hit a banked three-pointer then LA Tenorio hit a one-handed runner to give Ginebra the lead once again, 80-78.
Ginebra would never relinquished the advantage as James Yap missed a buzzer-beating three-point shot that could have sent the game into overtime.
Mac Baracael scored a season-high 20 points to snare the Best Player of the Game honors.
GUIAO PENALIZED
Meanwhile, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters will be without their head coach Yeng Guiao in their Game 5 showdown with the Petron Blaze Boosters on Friday after the fiery bench tactician was slapped with a one-game suspension following his back-to-back ejections in their best-of-seven semifinal series.
Rain or Shine leads the series, 3-1, needing just one win to advance to the finals.
Aside from the suspension, Guiao was also slapped with a hefty P100,000 fine.
In a statement, PBA Commissioner Chito Salud said Guaio was suspended “for persistent conduct unbecoming of a coach exhibited in a manner positively indicating disrespect, if not disdain or scorn, for the league as an institution and its fans.”
“I would like to state unequivocally that this disciplinary sanction cannot fully convey the sense of regret of this Office for the insulting and unsavory antics Coach
Guiao continues to display and foist on the players, the referees, his peers and the entire viewing public of the PBA, especially the youth, despite repeated well-meaning advice and counsel from this Office in the past.” added Salud.
Guiao was ejected in Rain or Shine’s blowout 73-106 loss Game 2 after he flashed a dirty finger at Petron forward Arwind Santos.
Guiao was also ejected in Game 4 after incurring two technical fouls but the Elasto Paiters were still able to hack out a gutsy 88-83 win.
Following his ejection, Guiao was seen flashing a dirty finger at the official’s table on his way to the dugout.