EARLY HEADSTART FOR SAN MIG SUPER COFFEE
Overall, it was a complete team effort for San Mig Super Coffee.
Allein Maliksi sent the game into overtime, Marc Pingris and Mark Barroca carried the torch in the extra period, Alex Mallari forced defensive stops, and throw in the all-around effort of Marqus Blakely as the Coffee Mixers nailed a 92-88 overtime win over Talk ‘N Text to draw first blood in their PLDT Home Telpad PBA Governors’ Cup best-of-five semifinal series Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The reigning Governors’ Cup Best Import scored eight of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, to go with his 10 rebounds, four assists, three steals, and three blocks, as the Coffee Mixers continued to have the Tropang Texters’ number in the playoffs.
“We just kind of battled and stayed in the game to give ourselves a chance in the end,” said San Mig coach Tim Cone.
“I look at the game and wonder how the heck did we win that game. In the overtime, we just tried to pound the ball inside, and tried to get baskets and fouls and create opportunities for ourselves, but overall, it was a scattered performance for us ’cause we didn’t play real well for probably 36 minutes, but we played good in the last six minutes and in the overtime period.”
James Yap had 13 points in the outing, despite sitting out most of the fourth and overtime periods.
“We lost PJ (Simon due to back spasms), and then halfway in the third quarter, we lost James who hurt his foot. He said he was ok to come back in and later, the doctor said, ‘No, maybe he shouldn’t come back in.’ I don’t know exactly how serious it is, but we’ll know tomorrow,” Cone said, as fatigue has evidently taken its toll on a number of San Mig’s key cogs.
He added, “Joe (Devance) left the floor with back spasms in the overtime. We’re just a team of attrition right now, we just have to battle our way in and with the guys we have, they’re doing a great job just by battling and grinding.”
Barroca had six of his 11 points in the extra five minutes, while Pingris also had six of his in the overtime period to finish with 10 alongside six boards.
Maliksi missed his first four shots from beyond the arc but buried a huge three-pointer with 21.2 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 77. He chimed in 10.
“Again, Allein Maliksi hit that shot that got us in overtime. That was huge, and it was a nice pass by Marqus (Blakely),” Cone said.
San Mig dug itself from a nine-point hole and kept Talk ‘N Text scoreless for a better five minutes of the fourth to close in at 74-75, but Castro drained a pull-up jumper with 26.5 seconds left to give the Tropa a 77-74 lead.
Then came Maliksi’s big trey from the left corner.
Paul Harris’ desperation jumper hit the front iron as time expired.
From there, it was all San Mig Coffee as Barroca and Pingris led SMC in erecting a 91-83 lead with 19.7 ticks remaining.
Jayson Castro led Talk ‘N Text with 24 points, six rebounds, and seven assists, as de Ocampo finished with a double-double of 19 markers and 13 boards.
Unlike their elimination round meeting, Harris could only muster 17 points behind 3-of-11 shooting from three-point land. (RL)
The scores:
SAN MIG SUPER COFFEE 92 – Blakely 20, Yap 13, Barroca 11, Maliksi 10, Pingris 10, Devance 9, Sangalang 9, Mallari 6, Melton 4, Reavis 0.
TALK N’ TEXT 88 – Castro 24, De Ocampo 19, Harris 17, Williams 9, Alapag 5, Fonacier 4, Baclao 4, Reyes 3, Canaleta 3, Carey 0.
Quarterscores: 18-22, 39-40, 62-65, 77-77, 92-88
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