It’s Carnival time: KIA sinks newly minted champ

Games tomorrow (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

4:15 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs Globalport

7 p.m. – Blackwater vs Purefoods

MANILA, Philippines - Kia Motors notched its second PBA franchise win, ending a 12-game losing streak in a long, lonely stretch of over four months with an improbable 88-78 conquest of Philippine Cup titlist San Miguel Beer in the latter’s Commissioner’s Cup debut at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

The Carnival caught a San Miguel side apparently still reeling from a championship hangover, pulling off a first triumph since an 80-66 victory over fellow PBA newcomer Blackwater in the season opener last Oct. 19.

 Assistant coach Chito Victolero, calling the shots in the absence of player-coach Manny Pacquiao, and his troops completed a rousing win even with 7-foot-3 import Peter John Ramos fouling out with over four minutes left to play.

It was their first victory after bowing to the Globalport Batang Pier and the Meralco Bolts in the early going of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

“We’re lucky we played San Miguel while they’re still off. They’re just back in training and their import has just come in. They’re very tough to beat once they get back in shape,” said Victolero, who has just taken over from Glenn Capacio as Kia chief assistant coach.

Victolero, a former PBA player with a short stint as a Sta. Lucia Realtor, later credited his players for holding on to the finish.

“Our problem before was how to finish a game. I have to give credit to the boys they were able to do that in this game,” Victolero said.

After seeing their 18-point third-quarter spread reduced to two midway through the final canto, the Carnival regrouped and came through with a searing 17-9 closing salvo to humble the Beermen and their import Ronald Roberts.

Pacquiao celebrated with his team through a phone call to team manager Eric Pineda.

“He congratulated all of us,” said Victolero. “At the half, he also called, reminding us of our defensive ploy and reminding the guys that we need to work hard and sustain our aggressiveness.”

Victolero said Pacquiao could be back Sunday when the Carnival play their next game against Barako Bull.

Meralco pulled one over Talk n Text for the first time in over a year and recorded a first-ever 3-0 start in a conference since joining the league in 2010 as the Bolts topped the Texters, 91-83, later in the night.

“Things are not going to get easier for us from here. But 3-0 is definitely a good start considering it’s a short tournament,” said Meralco coach Norman Black.