SAN MIG COFFEE CONTINUES CLIMB
The suspension of Marc Pingris and Joe Devance posed no problem for San Mig Coffee against Barangay Ginebra in a highly charged game watched by a cheering crowd of over 15,000 at the Big Dome.
The Mixers shook off a sluggish start and outfought the Kings in a battle at the finish, carving out an 89-86 win to climb to fifth place in the PBA Governors’ Cup Sunday night.
Marcus Blakely logged 30 points and 10 rebounds, and James Yap tallied 19 markers and nine boards while holding Mark Caguioa without a single field goal as the Kings notched a third win in their last four games despite the absence of Pingris and Devance.
Yancy de Ocampo and Rafi Reavis did a good job covering for their suspended teammates as the Mixers sustained their charge and caught up with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at fifth place at 3-3.
“It’s a virtual must-win for us, and we battled for that one,” said San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone.
“We’re without Ping and Joe. On the other hand, they’re missing Kerby (Raymundo) and Japeth (Aguilar), and that evened things out. The guys stepped up and did a great job especially down the stretch,” Cone also said.
Cone made special mention of Yap, De Ocampo, Reavis and Allein Maliksi.
“Yancy and Rafi did a yeoman job on (Dior) Lowhorn. They made up for the absence of Ping and Joe, and that’s a big key,” said Cone.
And it’s not lost on the multi-titled San Mig Coffee mentor the solid showing of Yap and Maliksi on both ends of the floor.
“James played real good defense. He’s probably the best defensive player on the court tonight. He did a good job on Gary David the last time, and now on Mark Caguioa. Allein is a revelation. He’s playing on a high level,” said Cone.
Yap was 7-of-16 from the field. On the defensive end, he was the main man holding Caguioa to a woeful 0-of-11 clip. The Ginebra top gun scored six points on 6-of-7 charities.
Still, the Mixers gutted it out to overcome the Ginebra side riding the solid games of Lowhorn and LA Tenorio.
Lowhorn came through with 29 points and 18 rebounds while Tenorio added 17 markers, nine boards and the same number of dishes.
Though squandering a 13-0 opening run and falling behind by eight, 67-75, early in the fourth, the Kings stayed in the fight, trailing by just two, 83-85, with 1:41 left.
Mark Barroca and Blakely delivered the back-breaker.
Barroca connected on back-to-back perimeter jumpers while Blakely scored on a breakaway slam making it 89-83 with a minute left in the clock. (SB)
The scores:
San Mig Coffee 89 – Blakely 30, Yap 19, Barroca 10, Simon 10, Maliksi 8, De Ocampo 6, Reavis 4, Mallari 2, Acuna 0, Gaco 0.
Ginebra 86 – Lowhorn 29, Tenorio 17, Ellis 8, Wilson 7, Baracael 6, Mamaril 6, Caguioa 6, Helterbrand 5, Maierhofer 2, Ababou 0, Urbiztondo 0.
Quarters: 22-26, 43-40, 66-63, 89-86
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