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Gabe Freeman did what his counterpart David Noel failed to do.
Freeman pumped in crucial points down the stretch while Noel wilted under tremendous pressure as the San Miguel Beermen overcame the BarangayGinebra Gin Kings, 106-104, to even their 34th PBA Fiesta Conference best-of-seven Finals at two-apiece.
Playing in front of thousands delirious fans at the Araneta Coliseum, Game 4 featured a fierce battle that saw the Beermen and the Kings figure in 18 deadlocks.
But thanks to Freeman, San Miguel avoided what could have been a huge 1-3 deficit.
San Miguel appeared to have the game in the bag when it erected a 101-94 lead, with two minutes left. But the Kings battled back and Noel's two free throws in the final 37.6 seconds forged the last tiebreak at 101-all.
In the next play, Mike Cortez missed a layup but Freeman grabbed the offensive rebound and completed a putback that put the Beermen back in front, 103-101 with 26.3 ticks to go.
Ginebra got a huge break when Noel was fouled by Freeman while attempting a three-point shot from the left corner in the final 16.2 seconds. But Noel bungled the free throws.
To stop the clock, Ginebra fouled Freeman but unlike Noel, the high-flying import delivered, sinking the two gift shots for a 105-101 San Miguel lead with only 13.5 seconds left in the clock.
Noel tried to redeem himself when he dropped a triple that cut San Miguel’s lead to just one, 105-104 with 10.7 seconds to go.
Cortez could only make one of his two freebies, leaving the door open for the Kings. Chico Lanete, however, missed a three-point attempt and Ronald Tubid collared the offensive rebound but opted for an off-balanced shot from behind the three-point arc as time expired.
Freeman led the Beermen with 23 points and got significant support from Dondon Hontiveros and Cortez, who tallied 19 and 18 markers, respectively.
Noel and Jay-jay Helterbrand topped the Kings with 22 points each, while Erik Menk added 21.
Game Five is scheduled on Sunday.
In the Leo Awards, meanwhile, Helterbrand was named the season's Most Valuable Player, while Rain or Shine's Gabe Norwood bagged the Rookie of the Year accolade.
Alaska's Willie Miller was named the 2009 Motolite-Player of the Year, Ryan Reyes of Sta. Lucia pocketed the Sportsmanship award and San Miguel's Jonas Player was adjudged the Most Improved Player.
Members of the All-Defensive Team were Burger King's Arwind Santos and Wynnie Arboleda, Ginebra's Billy Mamaril and Ronald Tubid and Coke's Asi Taulava while Miller, Hontiveros, Sta. Lucia's Kelly Williams, Norwood and Jay-arr Reyes make up the Mythical Five.
Helterbrand, Talk N Text's Mark Cardona, San Miguel's Jay Washington, Santos and Taulava comprised the Mythical First Team.
