PBA semifinals: Mixers get 1-0 headstart over Bolts

James Yap of San Mig Coffee (light) vs Cliff Hodge and Reynel Hugnatan of Meralco (dark). PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines — San Mig Coffee found a way late to outwork Meralco for an 83-73 win in the opener of their best-of-five semifinals series of the 38th PBA Governors’ Cup Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Joe Devance gave the Mixers a boost offensively with 17 points on three-of-four shooting from long range while Marqus Blakely made his presence felt late en route to a 15-point, 10-rebound night.

“We just kinda hung around, hung around until we got something going. And we got something going in the end of the third quarter and we were able to carry it over in the fourth quarter,” said San Mig Coffee head coach Tim Cone.

“No doubt we were emotionally drained from our last game against Alaska. We lacked some energy to start the game,” added Cone, whose team got a gruelling battle with the Aces in the quarterfinals.

But the Mixers’ lethargic start was put behind with their strong finish.

Sam Mig Coffee held Meralco to just four points in the final 4:31 of the game to turn its precarious one-point edge to a 79-69 lead after a steal and breakaway dunk by Marc Pingris with 2:09 remaining.

Bolts import Mario West was limited to just nine points on three-of-16 shooting from the field.

Originally posted at 08:47 pm | Sunday, September 29, 2013