PBA: San Mig Coffee Mixers make it three straight, topple Petron Blaze Boosters

(Updated 10:19pm) The San Mig Super Coffee Mixers are closing out the PLDT MyDSL 2014 PBA Philippine Cup strong, running up a three-game winning streak after erasing the Petron Blaze Boosters, 112-93, on Wednesday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

San Mig Coffee, 6-7, rose to solo fifth in the standings. Despite their 9-4 record, Petron are treading water since starting the conference 7-0, having lost four of their last six games.

PJ Simon led six Mixers in double figures with 20 points and five assists. Mark Barroca and James Yap each had 19 points and combined for eight rebounds, six assists and six steals. Ian Sangalang notched 13 points and five rebounds. Joe Devance and Marc Pingris each poured in 12 points, with Pingris hauling down an additional 15 rebounds.

"As I told [Petron head coach] Gee [Abanilla] after the game, it was just our night tonight. We were moving the ball well and they were missing easy shots," said San Mig Coffee mentor Tim Cone. "It was one of those nights where everything was going for us. There are nights like this, and it came at a really good time for us. We haven't had a night like this in all of this conference."

It was apt revenge as the Boosters blasted the Mixers during their first meeting this conference, 91-78.

[Related: Petron gets revenge on San Mig Coffee in Governors' Cup Finals rematch]

"Quarters [quarterfinals] is fine, but having to beat [the top teams] with a twice-to-beat disadvantage is a tall mountain to climb. Our goal is to get into the top six where it's a best of three, and at least that's even footing," added Cone.

Petron were unable to contain the Mixers' steaming hot backcourt in the first quarter, as James Yap, PJ Simon and Mark Barroca torched the Boosters' defense. Yap, returning from back spasms that kept him out last week, drained a turnaround jumper from the left block, highlighting an 8-0 Mixers run to close the quarter, 25-12.

San Mig Coffee didn't let up in the second quarter, shackling the Boosters in the halfcourt while getting any basket they wanted. Thrice, Simon and Alex Mallari linked up for alley-oops on fast break possessions, while 2013 second overall pick Ian Sangalang chipped in from the block to make it a 20-point deficit, 40-20.

At the 4:56 mark, Alex Cabagnot completed a four-point play to erase Simon's three-point play on the previous possession, 43-24. Though Petron had some success with Chris Ross driving into the paint, they were unable to complete stops while the Mixers kept rolling. Chris Lutz though did draw a foul and convert freebies with 0.3 on the clock to make it a 50-35 game at halftime.


Marcio Lassiter was a bright spot for Petron after the break, scoring eight of their first 12 points. But the Boosters' transition defense remained sorely lacking, as Simon and Joe Devance exploited them inside. June Mar Fajardo, who was having an unproductive night, was pulled from play while the Mixers surged on, 68-47.

With four minutes to play, consecutive jumpers from Arwind Santos looked like they might spark a Petron run. Sangalang though ensured that wouldn't happen, answering Santos and Doug Kramer beneath the bucket.

Petron's Ronald Tubid scored off a turnover at the quarter buzzer, 79-62.

In the fourth quarter, Petron barreled into the lane to slow the game down. With the Mixers in foul trouble, Lassiter and Fajardo built a 10-4 run to trim the deficit to 14 points. But it was the closest Petron would come, as Mallari and Yap splashed triples to recreate a comfortable cushion, 95-78, halfway through the quarter.

San Mig Coffee cleared the bench soon after, and finished the game with a Mallari alley-oop to 5'11" rookie Justin Melton for a two-handed slam on the break, fittingly encapsulating what tonight's game was all about.

"Our last play of the game was Justin getting up and showing everybody what he can do," said Cone. "We can't really spend time developing players...we have such a small margin for error. We just tell them to be patient, let's just get through this conference."

San Mig Coffee converted 43-of-75 (57.3 percent) from the field, while Petron were a miserable 32-of-84 (38.1 percent).

The Mixers led 22-14 in turnover points and 22-13 on fast break points.

Marcio Lassiter scored 20 points on 8-of-21 shooting from the floor. Chris Lutz had 18 points and six assists, but struggled similarly with a 3-of-9 mark. Arwind Santos had 12 points and 12 rebounds, while June Mar Fajardo logged 11 points and 12 rebounds. - AMD, GMA News


The scores:

San Mig Coffee 112 - Simon 20, Barroca 19, Yap 19, Sangalang 13, Devance 12, Pingris 12, Mallari 7, Reavis 4, De Ocampo 2, Gaco 2, Melton 2, Cawaling 0

Petron Blaze 93 - Lassiter 20, Lutz 18, Santos 12, Fajardo 11, Cabagnot 9, Kramer 8, Tubid 4, Ross 4, Marata 3, Duncil 2, Deutchman 2, Taha 0, Lanete 0, Hubalde 0

Quarter scoring: 25-12, 50-35, 79-62, 112-93