MANILA, 1 April 2006 — Coca-Cola is again on a streak — but of the losing kind this time.

Mark Caguioa hit four of the game’s final five points and led Barangay Ginebra to an 84-81 victory over the Tigers last night that dealt Coke a second straight loss in the PBA Philippine Cup.

The 5-foot-10 sentinel first scored on a devil-may-care drive to forge the game’s last tie at 81 before nailing two free throws with 11 seconds left for the victory that actually snapped a three-game losing skein for the Gin Kings.

Ginebra actually climbed back to .500 with the win, its third in six matches, while Coke kept a share of the lead despite the loss, its second also in six games.

Kings’ coach Siot Tanquingcen bared that the reason for their three-game losing streak was a change in strategy, and not because Eric Menk was slowed down by a severe sprain. He did not divulge the change, though, but said it was one that which was needed after his team tumbled out of the semifinals of the Fiesta Conference won by Red Bull.

“It’s good to finally get a win after three losses,” Tanquingcen said. “You will really struggle at first if you try to put a new system in. Caguioa went on to finish with 21 markers, while Menk, fully recovered, fired 19 and ripped off seven rebounds.

Jay-Jay Helterbrand was good for 14 markers, Kalani Ferreira chipped in with 10, while Rommel Adducul scored 10 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Billy Mamaril scored 18 points and Ali Peek added 16 markers and 15 rebounds for Coke, which opened its campaign here with four straight wins but has now dropped into the company of idle San Miguel and Purefoods.

The Chunkee Giants joined the Tigers and the Beermen on top after a physical 93-80 decision of Red Bull in the nightcap.

Hard fouls were handed out and tempers flared at the end of the game just when both teams were headed to their respective dugouts.

Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao got into a verbal tussle with a member of the Purefoods coaching staff on the Giants’ end of the bench.

Personnel from both teams lost their cool because of a hard foul given by Red Bull’s Celino Cruz to Eugene Tejada in the waning seconds and the outcome already beyond doubt.

Cruz, the 5-foot-9 guard, whacked a driving Tejada and got a piece of the Purefoods forward’s face.