Aggressive Beermen rebounds to tie Fiesta Cup title series over Ginebra

San Miguel fought back aggressively to even its Motolite-PBA Fiesta Cup Finals with Ginebra, beating the defending champions, 95-78, Friday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

Marc Pingris came off the bench to score 10 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter as San Miguel survived this time a Ginebra team that tried once more to live by the three-point shot but miserably failed.

Gabe Freeman, the best import awardee who spent much of the night at the bench because of foul trouble, still finished with 23 points and 17 rebounds while Jay Washington scored all of his 17 points in the first half.

“I wouldn’t say we dominated," said SMB coach Siot Tanquingcen. “Basically our defense slowed them down. The players just came out mentally prepared for this game."

The best-of-seven series is now tied at 1-1 with Game 3 set also at the Big Dome Sunday.

The Beermen, who gave away 20 offensive rebounds in Game 1, trampled the Gin Kings in the battle off the boards. They had 57 rebounds against the 40 by their opponents, and then held their sister-team to a horrible shooting from the three-point area.

David Noel led Ginebra with 20 points while best player of the conference Jay-Jay Helterbrand added 15 but only scored two in the final period.

Ginebra’s lust from the long court wasn’t as effective as in Game 1. The Gin Kings only converted 12-for-38 for a poor 31.6 percent.

The game was still tense with San Miguel leading 76-70. But San Miguel then unleashed a 16-2 blast anchored on Pingris and capped by an Olsen Racela corner jumper as the Beermen sealed the outcome with a 92-76 lead with 1:39 left in the game.

Racela and Ronald Tubid nearly came into blows after the SMB veteran guard got hit hard on his right eyebrow by the latter’s elbow after the Ginebra player was turning his body towards the basket.

Emotions also flared after the game. Danny Ildefonso and Pingris ferociously went after a fan after the final horn sounded, climbing over the court fence attempting to attack a man who was located at the back of the Ginebra basket.

Officials said that both Ildefonso and Pingris will be summoned at 10:00 a.m. Saturday to explain the incident