Ildefonso,Pingris back in action for crucial Game 4

How important are Danny Ildefonso and Marc Pingris to San Miguel Beer’s campaign in the ongoing Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta Cup best-of-seven championship series?

Coaches Jong Uichico and Siot Tanquingcen have different interpretations of the two’s value to the team.

“We were just fortunate Danny I and Pingris were not there in Game 3. It enabled us to match up in the frontline," said Ginebra’s Uichico.

Ildefonso is a two-time PBA Most Valuable Player and Pingris is a former finals MVP.

Ildefonso, winner of seven championships with San Miguel Beer, and Pingris, a key figure in Purefoods’ title campaign in the 2005-06 All-Filipino, served their one-game suspension in Game 3. This was their penalty for figuring in an altercation with a fan after Friday's Game 2. (see above video)

Without their presence inside the court, the Gin Kings feasted on the Beermen’s depleted frontline and hammered out a 116-103 triumph to take a 2-1 series lead.

In Game 3, Uichico also turned to his own version of an MVP by utilizing Eric Menk, who knocked in 16 points, three rebounds and a block in 17 minutes of action. Once a potent threat inside but slowed down by injury over the previous years, the Fil-Am center held his own against the likes of Dorian Pena, Jay Washington and Mick Pennisi.

But for Tanquingcen, who is in the hunt for his first title with San Miguel, the Beermen are capable of winning games even without Ildefonso and Pingris.

“We’re a team that has enough personnel and players who could step up in the absence of several people, but unfortunately, the players failed to step up," said Tanquingcen. “We just have to be ready every game and players should respond at every given opportunity."

But the Beermen don’t have many more chances, especially when they’re trailing by a game and their opponents halfway to repeating as champions for the first time in seven years. Tanquingcen and his troops also don’t want to fall into a 1-3 deficit in the series.

“We have to get our acts together in Game 4," said Tanquingcen. “No team wants to fall behind 1-3. For us, Game 4 is survival."

Ildefonso and Pingris will be back in action, but they need to work double time in helping the Beermen avoid falling into a deep hole.

This as the Gin Kings will try to ride on the momentum of their big Game 3 victory.

Ginebra got everything they needed that time – from David Noel’s breakout performance to Menk’s reemergence as finals hero, and the timely snipings of Ronald Tubid, Cyrus Baguio and Sunday Salvacion.

Of course, Jayjay Helterbrand, now the heart and soul of the Ginebra squad, has been able to quarterback as efficiently as ever. On Game 4, Helterbrand would be one of the strong candidates to win the season's MVP award.