INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - After showing it can win any which way, San Miguel tries to send Burger King packing and clinch the first championship slot in the Motolite PBA Fiesta Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Beermen, with a 3-1 lead in the best-of-five semifinal series following an epic double overtime victory Wednesday, are now the hands-down choice in the 5 p.m. contest.

Although the Whoppers refuse to throw in the towel, they face the monumental task of winning three games in a row to deprive the Beermen of their league-leading 29th Finals appearance and a chance to bag a record 18th title for the league’s oldest franchise.

Defending champion Barangay Ginebra and Rain or Shine clash in the 7:30 p.m. main game to break their 2-2 deadlock in their own series for the second title slot.

The Gin Kings tied the series two nights ago after holding the Elasto Painters to a tournament-low 70 points.

However, Rain or Shine is expected to come out hard for this one, and Ginebra coach Jong Uichico is readying his crew for another hard grind as the Kings continued to grope for their old fearsome form.

San Miguel coach Siot Tanquingcen talked with pride after the Beermen, who prevailed by big margins in their first two wins, gutted it out in Game 4 to escape with a 120-119 decision.

“A lot of things have been said about (Burger King) making the game close and winning toward the end,” Tanquingcen said after the Beermen pulled through without an import and two key big men from late in the fourth quarter on.

“That’s why (the) San Miguel (franchise) has a lot of (championship) banners—this team has the heart,” he added. “It doesn’t mean that we can’t win if we don’t blow them (Whoppers) out.”

But, like on Wednesday night, it won’t come easy.

“We’re not losing hope, especially after this game,” Burger King coach Yeng Guiao said. “We felt it should have been our game. For the whole series, we haven’t gotten a break from the referees.”

The Whoppers blew a 19-point first-half lead in Game 4 and needed to come back from a 12-point third-quarter hole. They also wasted several opportunities to win, and the chance to forge a third extension when Gary David split his crucial free throws.

In a related development, San Miguel’s Mick Pennisi was slapped a P20,000 fine and Burger King’s Beau Belga P10,000 for rough play in Game 4. Pennisi was ejected in the second quarter because of a Flagrant Foul 2 on Eric Rodriguez.

Belga’s suspension will take effect on Sunday if a Game 6 is necessary. If the series ends tonight, the Burger King enforcer, who was called for his fourth FF1 in the series, will sit out his first game next season.