Magnolia Beverage Masters Basketball Games Updates

Barangay Ginebra Guns for 3-0, Magnolia Beverage Masters to Get 2-1 Lead

It's back to square one for the battle between Magnolia Beverage Masters and the Air21 Express. This series is quite more exciting as compared to the series between Barangay Ginebra and Red Bull Barako with the Gin Kings dominating the series at this stage so far taking a 2-0 lead.

It will be another close ballgame but I expect the Magnolia Beverage Masters to make the necessary defensive adjustment to limit the Express offensive game. No predictions for today. Let's just enjoy the game and let the teams play.

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STREAKING GINEBRA GUNS FOR 3-0 BUBBLE
Air21, Magnolia to break 1-1 standoff

Source: Philippine Basketball Association
Thursday, July 24, 2008

Some seasoned observers have proclaimed that the semifinal basketball series between Barangay Ginebra and Red Bull is over.

And nobody, it seems, would want to disagree. The signs, after all, are convincing.

The Kings are playing consistent and solid basketball with Chris Alexander, Mark Caguioa and Jayjay Helterbrand completely dominating their Red Bull counterpart.

They are also noticeably more motivated than the Barakos, who appear to have lost their basketball chemistry and desire to excel after taking a two-week break – their reward for gaining outright basketball passage into the Final Four.

Yet, for all their splendid efforts in Gammes 1 and 2, Ginebra coach Jong Uichico isn't ready to address Red Bull in the past tense, no matter how basketball sportswriters tried to press him to deliver a bold statement that would sound a tad short of counting out the Barakos, who now trail the Kings, 0-2.

"We had our battles. More or less I know how (coach) Yeng (Guiao) thinks. He is an excellent basketball motivator. Red Bull is a dangerous basketball team specially when their backs are against the wall," offered Uichico moments after their 111-104 basketball victory Wednesday – Ginebra's second win in as many basketball gammes in the best-of-seven semifinal basketball series of the 2008 Smart PBA Fiesta Conference.

No one will dare argue that the Kings, champions of this basketball tournament four years ago, are playing their best basketball of the conference – and possibly of the season.

After a 0-5 start, the Kings closed out the eliminations by racking up six wins in a row to stave off early exit and avoid the wildcard phase. As of latest count, Ginebra is now the proud owners of a 10-gamme winning streak – the longest by any basketball team this conference.

Still, Uichico maintained anything can happen and cautioned his troops to be ready for any eventuality.

To justify his apprehension, Uichico reminded the league's beat reporters that Ginebra had also been in the same situation as Red Bull is now.

Recollecting his memories, the soft-spoken mentor said Ginebra had also fallen in a 0-2 hole against Magnolia Beverage Masters, then carrying the colors of San Miguel Beer, during the 2006-07 Philippine Cup Finals. But the Kings, as they always, didn't quit. They rallied and managed to win the next four basketball gammes to claim the basketball championship.

"There is a possibility it could happen. But I hope it would not," he said.

Nevertheless, the unassuming Uichico said Friday night's Gamme 3 set at 7:20 p.m. at the Ynares Center in Antipolo could be Red Bull's last shot to get back in the basketball series.

No team in the 33-year history of the basketball league has come back from a 0-3 deficit to win a best-of-seven basketball series.

"Their last shot is on Friday. We know they'll be giving their all so we also have to play 100 percent. We also need to win Gamme 3 just as much to get closer to the Finals," said Uichico.

The Kings will be marching into Gamme 3 without substitute center Alex Crisano, who has been suspended for one basketball gamme and fined P20,000 by PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios for his flagrant foul penalty 2 stemming from a play in the third quarter that saw him slamming the ball on the face of Red Bull guard Jojo Duncil.

Barrios also fined Duncil P5,000 but this was due to the flagrant foul penalty 1 assessed him for tripping Paul Artadi while the Ginebra guard was on his way to the basket.

The possibility of Red Bull winning Gamme 3 isn't far-fetched. But the Barakos will have to play consistently as a unit and try to match Ginebra's intensity and energy – something they sorely lacked in Gammes 1 and 2.

After a disappointing seven-point performance in Gamme 1, Cyrus Baguio sparkled with 34 points on Wednesday and Adam Parada showed some signs of life as well, pouring 16 points and cornering 10 rebounds – a remarkable improvement from his six-point, eight-rebound output in the opener last Sunday.

Still, their efforts did little to inspire the Barakos, who seemed to have lost fire and enthusiasm that propelled them to an outright spot in the semifinals.

The other semifinal series between Air21 and Magnolia Beverage Masters is showing strong indication of developing into one hell of a suspense theater.

With the series now tied at one basketball gamme apiece, the odds are even going into Gamme 3, although the Express enjoy a psychological advantage in their scheduled 4:50 p.m. date after escaping with a 103-102 cliffhanger in Gamme 2.

With import Steven Thomas back in the lineup, the Express appeared emotionally charged in Gamme 2 and their confidence helped them survived a belated rally by the Magnolia Beverage Masters in the closing seconds to tie the series.

"As I have been saying all along it's not how many points he makes. It's his defense and his presence that brings great value to us. Thomas’ mere presence provides the us with inspiration and confidence," said Air21 coach Bo Perasol of his import, who missed Gamme 1. (DBC)