SAN MIG COFFEE NIPS GINEBRA FOR EARLY HEADSTART

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Mark Barroca couldn’t have chosen a better time to end his shooting slump in this game, firing the game-winner in San Mig Super Coffee’s 85-83 nail-biter over Barangay Ginebra San Miguel at the start of their PLDT myDSL PBA Philippine Cup Final Four showdown at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Tuesday night.

Barroca was 0-of-7 from the field before completing a crucial interception of a Ginebra inbound, then himself knocking in a transition basket that shattered the 83-all count with 11.6 seconds to go.

Ginebra forward Mac Baracael consumed their last two timeouts only to fumble their crucial throw-in with 32.2 ticks left.

And with no more timeout left after Barroca’s bucket, LA Tenorio had no choice but to take a harried three-pointer that missed the target.

Marc Pingris cleared the board and, though he missed his two charities, the Kings did not have enough time to salvage the game or force overtime.

Thus, San Mig Coffee, the playoffs fifth seed, gained the crucial head start in the best-of-seven playoff.

“That can’t get any better than that,” said San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone. “No one got far enough from anybody and we’re just able to escape with the win.”

Cone said they virtually scored a twinkill in pulling through while giving top guns James Yap and PJ Simon some rest.

At the finish, Cone went to Barroca and rookie Justin Melton who vindicated their coach with their key exploits.

Melton scored seven of his eight points in the fourth quarter, helping the Mixers overcome a 57-65 deficit at the end of the third.

The Fil-Am playmaker actually committed two critical lapses in the final minute, but Joe Devance and Barroca were there to save the team in the end.

Devance capped a solid all-around performance with a deflection leading to the steal that Barroca parlayed to the game-winning basket.

Devance and Yancy de Ocampo stood their ground against the vaunted Ginebra Twin Tower of Japeth Aguilar and Greg Slaughter as the Mixers engaged the Kings in a nip-and-tuck battle before prevailing at the finish.

Devance led all scorers with 20 points with De Ocampo adding nine markers as against the 24-point combined output of Aguilar and Slaughter.

San Mig Coffee played catch-up basketball most of the first half but zoomed ahead, 43-40, at the turn on a 12-3 closing run.

The Mixers drew even at 40-all on a three-pointer by Devance and moved up front on a drive and a split from the line by Yap.

Devance converted all three three-point attempts and went six-of-seven overall from the field as he made 15 points right in the first 24 minutes of play.

Simon, Yap, De Ocampo and Marc Pingris combined for 23 as the San Mig starters outscored their Ginebra counterparts by 10 in the opening half.

LA Tenorio and Mark Caguioa helped Ginebra to a good start, 12-5, but had to sit out precious minutes as both picked up three early fouls.

Caguioa was limited to nine minutes in the first half where he made four points against two turnovers and three quick fouls.

Tenorio had just returned from a rest in the second quarter when he drew back-to-back infractions, prompting coach Ato Agustin to sit him out again. (SB)

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