MANILA, Philippines - San Miguel Beer overcame a six-point deficit in the last two minutes of regulation then drew second wind from its deeper bench in the second extra period to beat Barangay Ginebra, 108-104, and move in the threshold of back-to-back PBA finals stints at the Araneta Coliseum last night.

The Beermen outhustled, outplayed and outfought the Kings in second overtime to the dismay of the raucous Ginebra fans as they gained a commanding 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven semifinals series.

Coach Ato Agustin and his key players later vowed they would do their best to finish off the Kings tomorrow.

“If we continue to play this way, I have no doubt that we’ll make it all the way to the finals,” said the rookie SMB coach.

“Oo, kailangan nang tapusin (Yes, we have to finish it),” said SMB skipper Olsen Racela on whether they’re ready to clinch the series in Game Five.

“We’ll come back with the same intensity Friday. We’ll go for it,” said Jay Washington.

The Beermen played with greater poise and composure in the crunch, beating the Kings in second OT to move within a win of another shot at a crown after a losing stand against the Alaska Milk Aces in the last Fiesta Conference.

The Beermen, chasing their first all-Filipino crown in four years, opened with a seven-to-nothing run in second overtime and eventually broke the back of the Kings as Racela – playing a career 918th game – knocked in two free throws that made it 108-104 with 12.4 seconds left.

Washington grabbed a career-best 20 rebounds and tossed in 19 points while Alex Cabagnot, Danny Seigle, Danny Ildefonso, Dondon Hontiveros and Arwind Santos added at least 11 points each.

Ronald Tubid (with 28 points) and Rico Villanueva (with 19 points) both churned out conference high outputs that went to naught.

“We should have won it in regulation, and we lost it in second OT,” rued Ginebra coach Jong Uichico.

Cabagnot hit a three-pointer then set up Danny Ildefonso for a basket underneath in the last 24 seconds as the Beermen forced the extra period at 94-all.

The Kings had a chance to win it in regulation but Caguioa missed on a drive in the closing seconds.

Villanueva, Caguioa and Rudy Hatfield missed crucial foul shots earlier.

The game went to second extra period as both teams bungled key plays in the last two minutes of the first extra play.

Jayjay Helterbrand misfired two charities entering the final minute.

Seigle delivered 11 points, four rebounds and one assist coming off the bench in the second period, enabling the Beermen to get a 48-43 cushion at the half.

The Beermen trailed 25-26 in the opening quarter with Agustin starting with Paul Artadi and Sunday Salvacion instead of regular starters Cabagnot and Santos.

Nelson Beltran, Philippine Star