Big Game James sizzles anew as San Mig Coffee wins 2014 PBA Grand Slam

In the biggest game of the season, it was Big Game James who came up biggest.

The San Mig Super Coffee Mixers completed the PBA Grand Slam on Wednesday after defeating Rain or Shine, 92-89, in Game Five to win the Governors' Cup.

"Grabe, this team is special. Grabe talaga," said San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone.

The Mixers swept all three league championships this season, making it a total of four in a row since winning this tournament last season.

San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone, already the winningest in PBA history, became the first man to win a Grand Slam twice, after piloting Alaska to the same feat in 1996.

James Yap once again came through for the Mixers, leading all scorers with 29 points along with eight rebounds in another scintillating performance. Import Marqus Blakely once again stuffed the stat sheet for San Mig Coffee, finishing with 20 points, 16 rebounds, and nine assists.

The Mixers tried to put the Elasto Painters away in the third period, opening up a 69-53 lead with Rain or Shine forced to play all-Filipino when import Arizona Reid sat out while nursing a sprained foot.

But the dreadlocked Best Import returned later in the quarter to spark Rain or Shine's uprising, scoring two free throws to cap a 17-4 run that brought the Elasto Painters within three points, 73-70, heading into the final period.

The Elasto Painters came to within one after making the first basket of the fourth quarter, but Yap responded by stringing together five straight points for a 78-72 edge for the Mixers.

San Mig Coffee kept Rain or Shine at bay, leading 88-79 after a floater by Yap with less than four minutes left. But the Elasto Painters had one last gasp, putting together a quick 8-2 run behind Reid to come within three points, 90-87, with two minutes left.

Yap and Reid exchanged baskets in the next possessions, before Rain or Shine foiled the Mixers inside a minute left.

Trailing 92-89, the Elasto Painters had a shot to tie the game, but Paul Lee's three-pointer from the corner rimmed out.

Yap had a chance to seal the deal with 25 seconds, but missed two free throws.

That gave Rain or Shine another shot to equalize, but top guns Jeff Chan and Lee both missed badly on three-pointers in the next possession.

Mark Barroca, who won finals Most Valuable Player honors when San Mig Coffee defeated Rain or Shine in the Philippine Cup finals, also missed twice from the line, giving the Elasto Painters on final shot with 4.4 seconds left.

Barroca tipped the ball out on the Rain or Shine inbounds pass, leaving the Elasto Painters with just 2.6 seconds left for their final attempt.

But Arizona Reid's last shot hit front iron, allowing San Mig Coffee to escape. - JST, GMA News

The scores:

SAN MIG SUPER COFFEE 92 - Yap 29, Blakely 20, Devance 11, Pingris 10, Simon 10, Barroca 6, Maliksi 4, Sangalang 2, Mallari 0, Reavis 0, Melton 0.

RAIN OR SHINE 89 - Reid 23, Lee 21, Almazan 11, Norwood 11, Belga 7, Chan 6, Arana 4, Uyloan 2, Cruz 2, Tiu 2, Ibanes 0, Rodriguez 0.

Quarters: 23-16, 43-38, 73-70, 92-89