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SAN MIG COFFEE STAYS IN THE HUNT
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SAN Mig Coffee’s life does not depend on James Yap alone.
The other key Mixers came up with sterling all-around performances in making up for a dismal performance by Yap and beating Rain or Shine, 79-67, Saturday to at least extend their PBA Philippine Cup duel at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Marc Pingris, PJ Simon, Joe Devance and Mark Barroca were foremost among San Mig’s players who stepped up for Yap, who was hardly a factor with more fouls, missed shots and time on the bench than points made.
As a result, San Mig avoided a third straight loss in the best-of-seven duel, denied Rain or Shine an outright finals seat and assured a Game 6 to be played out Thursday.
“Guys like PJ and Joe and Ping and Mark, they really dug deep and played heavy minutes,” said Mixers coach Tim Cone, also giving special mention to the likes of JC Intal, Jonas Villanueva and Wesley Gonzales who briefly spelled his more established stars.
“They played their hearts out… the minutes they had they did not complain,” Cone pointed out.
Rain or Shine counterpart Yeng Guiao couldn’t say the same for his players.
Larry Rodriguez was the lone Elasto Painter in double figures with 14 as the likes of Jeff Chan and Paul Lee struggled. In the series’ other matches and even during the eliminations, the team was known to have somebody stepping up when others faltered.
None did this time, when Chan came up with only three points and Lee eight.
In contrast, credit is spread out on the San Mig side with Devance winding up with a gamehigh 20 points, Pingris 18 and a series-high 20 rebounds, Simon 16 points and 11 rebounds and Barroca 11 points and four steals.
All those atoned for another sorry night for Yap. The two-time MVP was held down to just two points on 1-for-7 field shooting. He saw only 23 minutes of action, being benched for very long stretches after picking up his third foul in the second and two more early in the fourth.
That may work in Yap’s favor since he’s been logging heavy minutes in the series’ past games, according to Cone. “James is gonna be ready for Game 6, that’s for sure,” he half-joked.
If Cone seems flippant, he could afford to after his charges cranked up their game at least a notch and steadily pulled away from a tight 57-56 count.
Seemingly none the worse for wear of what would be a 44-minute night, Pingris started and fuelled the Mixers’ most decisive onslaught with a couple of jump hooks and a follow up while Devance, Simon and Barroca chipped in to make it a 73-63 game, 4:57 left.
Lee’s layup and Rodriguez’s basket off his own offensive rebound brought Rain or Shine within six, still 2:37 remaining, but that was the closest it would get as it would flub its last five offensive thrusts.
A block by Pingris on Chris Tiu and Devance’s steal off Lee helped the E-Painters’ downfall while charities by Simon and Devance sealed the win.
Cone said the final score did not truly reflect the tight manner it was played. “Tough game, but we’re gonna do this one at a time,:” he said. “We’ll see what we can do in the next game.”
It was the same claw-and-scrape affair in the first three quarters with San Mig going to the final canto with the same two-point lead it toted at the half.
Once Gonzales opened up the final 12 minutes of play with a booming triple from the left corner and made it 57-50, it was clear the tide was turning San Mig’s way.
Yap missed his first three tries and even got blocked by Norwood in the opening half. He scored his first basket off a followup reverse, but got stripped by Jireh Ibanes and committed two quick fouls on Ronnie Matias and had to be taken out with still 7:09 left in the second quarter.
Barroca was relentless in his pressure on Rain or Shine’s ball carriers and even blocked Lee.
Lee had a turnover and two misses and saw only six minutes of first half action before being replaced by TY Tang.
Cruz was the brightest E-Painter with six of his nine points in the second quarter and his kickout assist to Tang resulted in a trey that made it 29-30. (NC)
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EDITORS' PICK
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