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MIXERS JOIN FAVES’ MARCH TO SEMIS
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San Mig Coffee won’t be left behind in the march of the top seeds to the PBA Governors Cup Final Four.
The Mixers regrouped after their 105-112 loss Wednesday, doing what they do best Friday night – play tough defense – to repulse the Alaska Milk Aces, 83-73, in a dog fight at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Marqus Blakely and his teammates stood their ground in a rugged match, holding Alaska to 28-percent shooting and forcing the Aces to 20 turnovers, nothing bigger than those committed by Cyrus Baguio and Jayvee Casio in critical situations inside the final minute.
Tapped to sub Alex Mallari in the crunch, Mark Barroca didn’t flinch under pressure, knocking in a runner that eventually broke the back of Alaska, at 77-70 with time down to 41.1 seconds.
Dashing the Aces’ aspiration for a repeat of their Commissioner’s Cup title run, the Mixers nurtured their own hopes for back-to-back finals in the season-ending tourney.
The second-seeded Mixers advanced to the best-of-five semifinals versus the third-ranked Meralco Bolts. Game One of their battle is Sunday over at the Big Dome.
The other semis pits top seed Petron Blaze versus No. 4 and titleholder Rain or Shine. The opener of this series is Monday in the same venue.
“That was a big load off our shoulders. I mean in a twice-to-beat, the pressure is all on the team with the disadvantage in Game One. But once they win the first one, the pressure goes all the way to the other team, the team that was supposed to be the favorites,” said San Mig coach Tim Cone.
“The key is we went back to basics. We focused on our defense. We got the score where we wanted to go. We played a very good, solid fourth quarter, which we hadn’t done much against Alaska this season,” added the former Alaska coach.
Blakely was also a big key with his solid all-round game laced by 30 points, 13 rebounds, five blocks and three assists.
He thrived in the physical battle underneath the basket, sending Wendell McKines, Gabby Espinas and Calvin Abueva to early foul-trouble situation.
Espinas went to the showers ahead of the rest after a flagrant infraction in the third quarter.
“We treated the game like a championship. It’s not easy. It’s very physical out there but we’re able to make a run and came out with the win,” said Blakely, a leading contender for the Best Import award.
“They beat us in a high-scoring game the last time. We gave over a hundred and that’s not our game. We knew if we can limit their production, we could win it. We did,” Blakely also said.
The Aces were still very much in the game when Baguio, Casio and Dondon Hontiveros committed an error each at endgame.
With firepower provided by Allein Maliksi and Joe Devance early on, San Mig Coffee gained an early 12-point buffer before taking the half at 39-35.Casio and RJ Jazul hit from afar while McKines struck hard at the paint as the Aces picked up their game in the second quarter and made it a close duel before the halftime break.
And the two teams engaged in a battle to the finish.
The Mixers pulled through despite Blakely’s 10-of-22 free throws, James Yap’s mere two-point output and Maliksi’s early ouster on a knee injury. (SB)
The scores:
San Mig Coffee 83 – Blakely 30, Devance 12, Maliksi 10, Barroca 7, Simon 7, Mallari 6, Pingris 4, Reavis 3, Ponferrada 2, Yap 2.
Alaska 73 – McKines 24, Baguio 20, Dela Cruz 10, Thoss 6, Casio 5, Abueva 4, Jazul 3, Espinas 1, Hontiveros 0.
Quarters: 18-12, 39-35, 61-53, 83-73
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EDITORS' PICK
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