Playing the way they are capable of, the Gin Kings on Saturday night came from behind to rip Alaska, 105-93, for their third straight win in the Fiesta Conference eliminations that kept them in the running for an outright Final Four seat.

The Kings wiped out an 11-point third quarter deficit and then held the Aces to just two points inside the final 3:43 to take the win pulling away and serve notice that the lineup that coach Jong Uichico had a difficulty juggling is now fast jelling.

“It’s good that we carried over, not because we won the game but we carried over the style of play that we want,” Uichico told reporters after his Kings electrified a huge crowd in this bustling southern city.

“We just kept fighting and fighting and things just turned around in the fourth quarter,” he added, traces of dissatisfaction in the last two wins now totally gone. “We just didn’t give up and our players played their hearts out.

“That’s just the way the Ginebra team should play — come what may.”

Eric Menk was an inside-outside operator, draining 25 points — his most in this tournament — as he more than made up for a lackluster performance by import Mildon Ambres and carry the Kings to a victory that was a sweet revenge to their first round loss to the Aces.

Mark Caguioa added 20 points and Jay-Jay Helterbrand and Willie Miller, who have three MVP trophies between them, shooting 12 apiece in one of the most convincing victories by the Kings in the tournament.

Diamon Simpson led the Aces with 24 points with Cyrus Baguio, who is fast assuming the role as the squad’s top local, contributing 17 points.

Menk scored six straight points when the Kings closed out with a 14-2 run as they snapped the game’s last tie at 91 that had the predominantly pro-Ginebra crowd stomping their feet and roaring with approval.

Alaska thus saw an end to a two-game winning streak and dropped to 6-5, and the Aces would need to find a big finishing kick in order to have a chance at making the Final Four outright.

With the loss, the Aces are now at least three games behind the league-leading San Miguel Beermen and two full games off No. 2 Talk ‘N Text, which is at 8-2.

The Beermen, after getting 27 points from energetic import Gabriel Freeman, improved to 10-1 Friday night after outsteadying Air21, 106-100, the Express’ ninth straight loss in a tail-ending 1-10 card.

Reggie Larry paced the Express, who welcomed back Wynne Arboleda from a seven-month suspension for mauling a fan in the Philippine Cup eliminations against Smart-Gilas.

Arboleda scattered 18 points and helped keep the Express in the game. But the sheer advantage in manpower that the Beermen have simply proved too much for Air21 to handle.

In the other game on Friday, Rain or Shine broke away in the third period to crush Barako Coffee, 100-78, and stay within range of making the quarterfinals outright.

Jay-R Reyes came out of a long offensive stupor to fire 23 points coming off the bench and lead the Elasto Painters, who drained five triples in the third period to break the game wide open and deal the Coffee Masters their ninth loss in 11 outings.

Sammy Monroe was held to a paltry 12 points, which compounded the inability of the Coffee Masters to make a game out of it in the second half.

What’s worse, those 12 points proved enough to lead the Coffee Masters in scoring with only two locals shooting in twin digits.

Rain or Shine pounded out the lopsided win even with Solomon Mercado not suiting up.

The 6-foot All-Star was nursing a strained rotator calf in his right shoulder but is expected to be back for the Painters’ next game.