Kings sweep Bulls; Masters level series

Mark Caguioa erupted for 33 points coming off the bench but Barangay Ginebra still needed extra five minutes to complete a four-game sweep of Red Bull and clinch the first berth in the Smart PBA Fiesta Conference Finals at the Araneta Coliseum last night.

Amal McCaskill drained a turnaround jumper off Steven Thomas with 1.4 seconds to go and Magnolia pulled off a 104-102 squeaker over Air21 to force a 2-2 standoff in their own semis series in the second game.

Gary David sizzled with 32 points but fouled out on two successive offensive infractions in the homestretch.

Thomas picked up the cudgels on the ouster of David but was finally beaten by the Beverage Masters with McCaskill firing the deciding basket in the waning seconds.

“It could go both ways. It so happened that we made the last basket. We’ve been playing close games since the elims and I don’t expect it to go easier in the next games,” said Magnolia coach Bethune Tanquingcen.

Paul Artadi and Rafi Reavis delivered the killer blows in overtime as the Kings swept past the Bulls, 101-97, earning the team’s 17th finals appearance and gaining a shot at an eighth title.

Artadi banged in a three-point shot then Reavis came through with an interception and a breakaway two-handed jam as the Kings eventually broke the Bulls’ back, scoring the third four-game sweep in the rich history of the league.

The Kings will enjoy at least a four-day rest before taking on either the Magnolia Beverage Masters or the Air21 Express in Game One of the best-of-seven finale, riding the crest of a franchise-record 12-game run.

“It’s a big relief to get into the championship again. The final outcome says it’s 4-0 but it was far from easy. Red Bull is a team so hard to get rid of,” said coach Jong Uichico, getting his second final stint with Ginebra.