'Miller Time' sparks Kings' triumph over streaking Beermen

`Miller Time’ finally put an end to the longest winning streak in the PBA Fiesta Cup. Willie Miller played his best game in a Barangay Ginebra uniform, scoring 26 big points and guiding the Kings to a rousing 104-90 victory over defending champion San Miguel Wednesday night before a huge crowd at the Araneta Coliseum. The only guard to win the MVP title twice, Miller presided over a strong Barangay Ginebra start, and then bailed the team out of danger when the Beermen threatened for the last time coming home. After Dondon Hontiveros put San Miguel to within 88-91 with a booming three-pointer inside the final five minutes, Miller strung up five straight points, including a quick-released three-point shot off a Mark Caguioa assist, that stretched the Ginebra lead to eight. Milton Ambres then decided the outcome of the bruising game with another trey for a 99-88 count with 81 seconds left to play. Acquired in a blockbuster, one-on-one trade with Alaska for Cyrus Baguio, Miller went 10-of-14 from the field and was 4-of-5 from three-point range. He also had eight assists. “His teammates are always urging him on the offensive end, kaya sana nga mag-tuluy-tuloy na ito," said coach Jong Uichico in the post-game press conference. Ginebra’s eight win in 12 outings put back the league’s crowd darling in solo third place. The loss ended the nine-game winning run of the Beermen, who prior to the setback, last suffered defeat at the hands of Coca-Cola, 108-98, last March 28. But the reigning champion remained on top with a 10-2 slate. “We played the no.1 team, so it was really a hard-fought game. Good thing, we came up with a win tonight. Hopefully, we’ve gone over the hump," Uichico added. Miller scored half of his total output in the opening half. His soft jumper following a behind-the-back dribble off Alex Cabagnot gave the Kings the first of their two 14-point leads in the second quarter, 60-46. But the champion that they are, the Beermen bounced back in the third period, outscoring the Kings in the first six minutes of the second half, 19-4, to take the upperhand, 67-66. The Kings, however, regained the lead at 78-77, entering the final quarter. Ambres added 16 points, Eric Menk had 14 and Caguiao chipped in 12 as the Kings won for the third straight time. Gabe Freeman, recipient of a flagrant foul courtesy of Enrico Villanueva in the third period, finished with 19 points and 17 rebounds to lead the Beermen, while Santos had 16, the last of which broke San Miguel’s silence in the stretch run but not enough to turn the game around, 101-90, with less than a minute remaining. Jay Washington, engaged in a jawing incident with Willie Wilson in the final 3:54, and Hontiveros each had 12 for the defending champion. - RCJ, GMANews.TV