San Mig Coffee’s Yap, Simon too much for Ginebra in Game 7
James Yap of San Mig Coffee (light) vs Chris Ellis of Ginebra (dark). PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio
MANILA, Philippines — James Yap started it, PJ Simon ended it for San Mig Coffee.
Yap and Simon combined for 58 points as the Mixers knocked off the top-seeded Barangay Ginebra Kings, 110-87, in record-setting fashion in a Game 7, leaving most of the record-breaking crowd at the Smart Araneta Colieum stunned Wednesday night.
It was a sterling shooting display by Yap and Simon that even their veteran coach Tim Cone, who seemed to have seen it all, was left speechless.
“Reminds me of the game. Remember when Michael Jordan came down against Portland and kept hitting 3-point shots and he turned to the people and went like this ‘I don’t know what’s going on’ that’s what like felt, I don’t know what’s going on,” an overwhelmed Cone told reporters.
“Too much James and PJ basically, that’s what it was,” he added. “Whatever they ate, we’re going to know and make sure they eat that every game.”
Yap hit seven out of his 10 3-point attempts, five coming in the first half where he just set the tone for the Mixers with 24 points. He had seven more points in the second half but those last two quarters belonged to his backcourt tandem Simon.
Simon scored 20 of his 28 points in the final two quarters including 15 points in a fiery fourth quarter where the Mixers lead swelled past the 20-point plateau, 107-84, after his last basket with under two minutes left.
“I’ve never seen a shooting performance by two guys like that ever in my career especially in a Game 7,” Cone said. “Shooting like that, no one was going to beat us tonight.”
And certainly, the Kings couldn’t even come close to beating the Mixers, who shot an outstanding 60% from the floor, making 11-of-16 from long range.
Former MVP Mark Caguioa carried much of the scoring load with 23 points for Ginebra but cooled off in the second half as did his teammates as the Kings were held to only 39% from the field.
Rookie Ian Sangalang and Rafi Reavis added 15 points each for San Mig Coffee, which faces Rain or Shine in a best-of-seven finale starting on Friday 8pm also at the Big Dome.
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