SMC DETHRONES ALASKA, TREBLE BID ALIVE
San Mig Coffee ended Alaska’s reign as PBA Commissioner’s Cup champ and continued its own march for a possible hat-trick as the Mixers clobbered the Aces, 79-65, in a knockout battle at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Saturday.
The Mixers made a key run late in the first half curiously after a commotion that involved San Mig Coffee governor Rene Pardo and Alaska official Dickie Bachmann, and stepped up even more in the third quarter en route to the win that sent the team to a best-of-five semifinal showdown with the Air21 Express.
The Mixers and the Express begin their semis duel at 8 p.m. Tuesday also at the Big Dome.
“In beating San Miguel Beer, coach Franz Pumaren said they slew a dragon. I’m sure they will also look at us as a dragon. Hopefully, we’ll be ready with their irons, swords or whatever,” said San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone on their showdown with Air21.
Cone said he’s so pleased to make the semifinals as he felt Alaska was playing championship level coming into the quarterfinals.
“To be absolutely honest, I thought Alaska’s playing too high a level. I feel very fortunate to beat them two in a row,” said Cone, giving much credit to his players.
“They’ve got so much playoff experience that they don’t panic, they don’t have deep anxiety. They’re comfortable playing the game,” said Cone.
James Mays and the other San Mig Coffee core players did their jobs, pushing one another as they overcame a 0-1 deficit in the best-of-three quarters.
Mays grabbed 24 rebounds and put in 17 points, PJ Simon top scored with 21 markers while Mark Barroca and Marc Pingris added 14 and 10 as the Mixers repeated their 70-65 triumph Wednesday to book a seventh straight Final Four appearance.
“I’m really so pleased the way we battled. Alaska put us on a rope but just couldn’t put us away,” said Cone.
The Mixers broke loose from a 28-all standoff and led by as many as 18 at 53-35 before eventually winning the do-or-die game with plenty to spare.
And thus the Mixers stayed on course for a possible treble following their title runs in the last Governors’ Cup and in the recent Philippine Cup. (SB)
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