Games today:
(Araneta Coliseum)
5 p.m.- Ginebra vs. Rain or Shine
7:30 p.m.- San Miguel vs. Burger King
Rain or Shine and San Miguel try to inch closer to clinching championship berths while Barangay Ginebra and Burger King try to avoid falling into a deep hole as the semifinal round of the 34th PBA Fiesta Cup resumes today at the Araneta Coliseum.
The semifinal round has been a tug-of-war between the four teams with Rain or Shine and San Miguel winning the series-openers before Burger King and Ginebra won Game 2s to even the matchups.
The Painters and the Beermen regained the upper-hand by scoring crucial wins last Sunday and another successful outings today could send them closer to the championship round.
Gabe Norwood tallied 17 points and 12 rebounds, while import Jai Lewis scattered 16 markers and 16 boards in the Painters' 94-88 Game 3 win over the defending champions Kings.
?As of now we?re still under-achievers, and we want to achieve more,? said Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia.
Rain or Shine played without Jireh Ibañez and Sol Mercado in Game 3 but several Painters stepped up and gave significant contributions.
?Young and depleted at that, our team is proving it has a heart to compete in this level of competition. Iniisip lang namin hindi kami kailangan ma-pressure because we?re the underdogs here. We?re the league?s whipping boys. But if we continue to play this way, I think we have a good chance of winning this series,? Garcia said.
Gabe Freeman, on the other hand, piled up 35 points and 16 rebounds to lead San Miguel's 100-88 Game 3 win over Burger King.
San Miguel head coach Siot Tanquingcen said the Beermen have to play with a sustained effort as they tend to lose big leads in the endgame.
?Our challenge is to go against the grain of human nature,? said Tanquingcen.?Following a big win like that, you tend to relax in defense.? /Editorial Assistant Calvin Cordova
