Flaunting the heart of a champion, B-Meg Derby Ace played with the needed urgency to overwhelm Rain or Shine, 92-78, and sent their PBA Fiesta Cup quarterfinal series to a deciding game.

Derby Ace's move of bringing in a new import worked wonders for the Llamados as reinforcement Tony Washam teamed up with local bet James Yap in a dominating Game 4 performance as the reigning Philippine Cup champions led from start to finish at the Astrodome.

Playing his first game on local soil, Washam, a late replacement for Cliff Brown, lighted up the scoreboards with 29 points and 13 rebounds while Yap added 17 in the lopsided win that tied the best-of-five series at 2-2.

Game 5 is set Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum, with the Elasto Painters in danger of missing the services of key big man JR Reyes.

The 6-foot-7 center was assessed a flagrant foul 2 with six minutes remaining and the outcome of the match already settled after he elbowed Derby Ace's Raffi Reavis.

Roger Yap had 17 for Derby Ace, which also got a combined 25 points from the trio of Reavis, Rico Maierhofer, and Don Allado.

"We came into the game with just one mindset - and that is to survive. Hopefully, we'll be able to pull through again on Sunday," said Maierhofer, who grabbed a team-high 14 rebounds.

The Elasto Painters never really got on track the moment they fell behind early in the game.

They trailed by 12 after one quarter, 14 at the half and totally lost grip of the match in the last two periods of the contest when Mark Pingris, playing even with a slight tear on his left thigh muscle, canned in two free throws to give Derby Ace a 60-37 advantage.

The closest Rain or Shine could get was at 81-64 with five minutes remaining before Washam hit two straight three-pointers to keep the Elasto Painters at bay, 90-67.

The Elasto Painters were so frustrated that even back up center Mark Telan elbowed Paul Artadi to the face in the final two minutes, with the former La Salle stalwart fortunate enough to be penalized with only a flagrant foul 1.

Rod Nealy led the Elasto Painters with 26 points and Jeff Chan was the only local player in double figures with 15.

Sol Mercado and Gabe Norwood, the Elasto Painters' acknowledged 1-2 punch, was held to just eight and six points, respectively. - JVP, GMANews.TV

Scores:

B-Meg Derby Ace 92 - Washam 29, Yap J. 17, Yap R. 13, Allado 9, Maierhofer 8, Reavis 8, Pingris 5, Artadi 3, Simon 0, Adducul 0.

Rain or Shine 78 - Nealy 26, Chan 15, Norwood 8, Mercado 6, Reyes 6, Hrabak 6, Laure 5, Cruz 4, Tang 2, Arellano 0, Arana 0, Ibanes 0, Telan 0.

Quarter scores: 26-14, 43-29, 70-49, 92-78.

The team known for its never-say die spirit is at it again.

Getting a balanced scoring from its star-studded roster, Barangay Ginebra scored a 94-90 win over Alaska to force a deciding Game 5 in their PBA Fiesta Cup quarterfinals series.

JC Intal and Ronald Tubid hit consecutive three-pointers in the final three minutes while Sunday Salvacion came through with the game-sealing free throws with 2.6 seconds left in Friday night's Game 4 at the Astrodome.

Once staring at a 0-2 deficit in the best-of-five affair, the Kings had now leveled the series at 2-2 and momentum clearly on their side when the do-or-die game, for the right to play top seed Talk ‘N Text, is played on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

"It is now a jump ball," declared Ginebra coach Jong Uichico after the thrilling game. “We worked hard to have a Sunday game and now we're here. It's 50-50. Hopefully we can come out with the same mind-set when we were down 0-2."

Five Kings finished in double figures led by Tubid's 13. Willie Miller, Jayjay Helterbrand and Intal, hero of Ginebra's 91-87 Game 3 win, each had 12.

Import Chris Daniels fouled out with 1:55 remaining but not after collecting 10 points, 14 rebounds and five assists.

Tubid and Intal's successive treys in the final 2:40 plus an Eric Menk basket a minute later gave the Kings a 92-87 cushion 1:34 left.

But showing steely nerves, the Aces would have one fight left in them.

After a Sonny Thoss split free throw, Helterbrand committed a turnover in Ginebra's next play paving the way for tow more foul shots by Alaska import Diamon Simpson at the other end to close the gap at 92-90.

Simpson then made a defensive stop by blocking Enrico Villanueva's shot attempt in the ensuing play, giving the Aces a chance for a game-tying basket.

Unfortunately, the Aces blinked.

Joe DeVance couldn't control his momentum and was whistled for a traveling violation after receiving a pass from LA Tenorio, a turnover that actually sealed Alaska's fate in the final 12.4 seconds.

It didn't help Alaska's cause when the Aces gave away precious seconds before committing consecutive fouls to send the Kings, Salvacion specifically, into the free throw line.

Simpson showed the way for the Aces despite in foul trouble as early as the 2:24 mark of the third quarter. He finished with 25 points and 17 rebounds, while Tenorio and Cyrus Baguio each contributed 14 points. - JVP, GMANews.TV

Scores:

Brgy. Ginebra 94 - Tubid 13, Intal 12, Miller 12, Helterbrand 12, Daniels 10, Menk 9, Cortez 8, Vilanueva 7, Hatfield 5, Salvacion 4, Caguioa 2.

Alaska 90 - Simpson 25, Tanorio 14, Baguio 14, De Vance 11, Thoss 11, Hugnatan 8, Dela Cruz 5, Borboran 2, Eman 0, Fonacier 0.

Quarter scores: 17-23, 41-46, 69-68, 94-90.

Its bid for a second crown this season in danger, B-Meg Derby Ace tries to resuscitate its sagging 2010 PBA Fiesta Conference campaign by fielding in a new import against Rain or Shine in tonight's Game 4 at the Cuneta Astrodome.

The Llamados parade Tony Washam, a 6'7 veteran of the Israeli National League as they seek to prevent the Elasto Painters, now enjoying a 2-1 lead, from clinching the best-of-five showdown and reaching the semis against the San Miguel Beermen.

A former St. Vincent College star and owner of two championships in Israel, the 28-year-old Washam is reported to be a "proven scorer" (30.1 points per game in the playoffs) and an "athletic small forward" who would likely fit the "playoff-level" reinforcement the Llamados need at this point.

He replaced Clif Brown, under whose leadership Derby Ace lost back-to-back games, 69-79 and 111-117, after winning the series opener of the quarters, 108-102.

If he proves good as advertised, Washam is expected to boost the reigning Philippine Cup champion's scoring and rebounding stock, especially with skipper Kerby Raymundo and Marc Pingris doubtful for the second straight game. Raymundo is out with an injury in his right knee while Pingris suffers from a slight tear in his left thigh.

Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra looks to level its own series against Alaska.

The crowd darlings come into the 5 p.m. tussle fresh from a morale-boosting 91-87 triumph that kept them alive and extended the series after the Aces seized a 2-0 headway. - www.philstar.com

Barangay Ginebra unloaded a surprise package in JC Intal and the former Ateneo stalwart responded big time as the Kings lived for another day in their PBA Fiesta Cup quarterfinals series with the Alaska Aces.

Intal came off the bench and finished with a team-high 20 points to power the Gin Kings to a 91-87, win over the Aces Wednesday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

With Willie Miller and Mark Caguioa struggling, Intal stepped up and delivered to reward the Gin Kings their first win in three games here in the quarterfinals.

Although still down in the best-of-five series, 1-2, the Kings staved off outright elimination and remain in the hunt for a semifinal slot. Game 4 is set on Friday at the Astrodome with Ginebra seeking for the equalizer.

"Who knew it was going to pay off? Who knew JC will play this way," said Barangay Ginebra coach Jong Uichico afterwards.

He added, "It was a gamble and it paid off."

Caguioa, a former Rookie of the Year, and Miller, a two-time Most Valuable Player, could only combine for six points, further reinforcing Uichico's move to give Intal more playing minutes.

"They've been struggling, Mark and Willie, so there are other players than can take their minutes and that's what happened today. If they're not playing well, then other players should play," Uichico said.

"It's been a close series and hopefully, they'll make the adjustments and we'll make ours," he said.

Alaska fell by as many as 14, 58-72, early in the fourth period. But the Aces kept clawing their way back into the contest and came to within 87-90 on Joe Devance's turnaround triple, 5.3 ticks left.

Ronald Tubid, however, sealed the win by making two free throws to ensure Ginebra's win.

Alaska import Diamon Simpson had 27 points and 13 rebounds.

Chris Daniels added 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Kings while Jayjay Helterbrand broke out of a scoring slump with 16, and Eric Menk chipped in 12 points and eight boards.

But it was Intal, who made the most impact, making his presence felt in the last five minutes of the third period when he drained five triples and scored 11 of his 12 points to power Ginebra to a 69-58 lead.

A Heltebrand three-pointer gave the Kings their biggest lead of the game, 72-58.

But the Aces rallied their way back behind Simpson, Cyrus and LA Tenorio. - RCJ, GMANews.TV

Scores:

Brgy. Ginebra 91 - Intal 20, Daniels 19, Helterbrand 16, Menk 12, Cruz 4, Caguioa 4, Tubid 3, Salvacion 3, Cortez 3, Hatfield 3, Miller 2, de Ocampo 2, Villanueva 0.

Alaska 87 - Simpson 27, Devance 16, Thoss 11, Baguio 11, Hugnatan 7, dela Cruz 5, Tenorio 4, Eman 2, Cablay 2, Cariaso 2, Fonacier 0, Robinson 0.

Quarterscores: 18-20; 39-35; 69-58; 91-87