CELLARDWELLERS PART WAYS
The San Mig Super Coffee Mixers’ and Air21 Express’ woes may be far from over. But one of them will sleep a little more soundly Sunday night.
The two downtrodden teams in the PLDT myDSL PBA Philippine Cup meet at 3 p.m., with their sights trained on a first ever win after three consecutive losses, a respite that would allow the winner a quick breather and an opportunity to take stock of the situation under brighter circumstances.
At 0-4, the loser will be standing on shaking ground nearly halfway through the 14-game elimination round where the teams with the two worst records get booted out.
Though misery loves company, neither the Mixers nor the Express would choose to be mired this early at rock bottom, a position one could find increasingly difficult to extricate from.
Injury-saddled San Mig is coming off a 78-91 loss to hobbled Petron Blaze, while Air21 looks to get back on track after getting derailed by the Meralco Bolts, 112-79.
The absence of Joe Devance (patellar tendinitis) and PJ Simon (Achilles heel), and the long recovery back from ACL surgery of Allein Maliksi, are odds San Mig couldn’t overcome, especially with star James Yap unable to carry his team.
“We still got guys out who are not coming back soon,” said San Mig coach Tim Cone. “But it’s a long conference, and we expect to get there at some point in the conference.”
Yap would have to tow the Mixers, however, if they are to get anywhere.
The two-time MVP played just 23 minutes in that loss to the Boosters, 17 less than Mark Barroca, who came off the bench, 7 less than fellow starters Marc Pingris and rookie Ian Sangalang, and 3 less than neophyte JR Cawaling.
Cone sat Yap down for most the second half after the faltering superstar went 1-of-8 from the floor. Barroca finished with 20, Pingris 16, Cawaling 14 (3-of-4 in 3s), and Sangalang 12.
Will Cone bench his No. 1 player again if he starts cold? That seems a possibility because the Mixers mentor had done it a couple of times before.
And how would Yap react? That would be the even bigger question.
Pingris blames the long-lasting euphoria of their last championship (Governors’ Cup).
“Dala-dala pa rin namin,” he said. ”Ang feeling namin, kaya namin lahat ng kalaban kahit hindi kami mag-ensayo.”
Air21 would want nothing more than to foster a little longer that attitude in the Mixers.
The Express were in the thick of the fight against the Bolts only to reel back when John Wilson (all-time-tying 6-for-6 triples) and Sunday Salvacion (4-of-9 3s) turned hot in the second quarter.
Against the Mixers and their struggling offense, Air21 could find redemption and lifeline out of the rut. (WJRHT)
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