SAN MIG COFFEE ON TARGET AT LAST
There’s just no stopping San Mig Coffee from nailing its first win in the PBA Governors Cup Sunday night.
“We just caught Talk n Text at a real good time. Bad for them,” said coach Tim Cone as they got a big relief, checking a two-game slump with a 118-99 rout of Talk n Text at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
The Mixers torched the Texters with their most explosive performance in a long, long while.
“James (Yap) got going early, Marqus (Blakely) made his first free throw and Ping (Marc Pingris) was such an awesome defender,” said Cone.
Add to the mix the continued absence of Gilas players in the Talk n Text fold, and the Texters just didn’t stand a chance versus the Mixers in this particular contest.
Pingris brought in high-energy performance in his return to his mother team, collecting a season-high 23 points and eight rebounds to help the Mixers break into the win column in the short season-ending tourney.
Taking the cue from Pingris, Yap broke off his personal slump, firing away 21 points after going 2-of-24 from the field in their first two games.
“The guys tried to get James open to give him open shots. I didn’t ask them to do it. They just did it,” said Cone.
Blakely topscored with 24 points, marking the first time three teammates scored at least 21 each in a game since the Game Five of the Ginebra-Talk n Text semis showdown in the recent Commissioner’s Cup.
The Mixers were a great mix right from the start, storming to a 39-21 lead in the first quarter.
And despite 38 points from Tony Mitchell and 21 from Sean Anthony, the Texters couldn’t pose a serious threat to the very end.
The Mixers came out ablaze, putting in their largest first-quarter output in four years.
“Zero-two kasi at kailangang-kailangan nang makakuha ng panalo,” said Pingris, still on top of his game from his Gilas Pilipinas stint.
“Sobrang saya ko. Na-miss ko ang team ko at na-miss ko ang PBA,” Pingris also said.
The hardnosed 6-foot-4 forward made a big impact though playing with a slight fever, a big thorn to the Texters, who slid from first to joint fifth with the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings at 1-1.
The Texters terribly missed the services of national players Ranidel de Ocampo, Jimmy Alapag, Jayson Castro and Larry Fonacier.
Talk n Text, however, may already welcome the return of De Ocampo as the Texters tangle with the Meralco Bolts Friday. (SB)
The scores:
San Mig Coffee 118 – Blakely 24, Pingris 23, Yap 21, Maliksi 10, Mallari 9, Devance 9, Barroca 7, Simon 7, Reavis 6, Gaco 2, Alvarez 0, Acuna 0, Najorda 0.
Talk N’ Text 99 – Mitchell 38, Anthony 21, Al-Hussaini 10, Reyes 8, Peek 8, Aquino 5, Reyes 5, Aban 2, Carey 2, Raymundo 0, Ferriols 0.
Quarters: 39-21, 60-46, 89-71, 118-99
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