Mixers rip Bolts for 2-1 lead

JAMES Yap of San Mig Coffee draws a foul on the drive from Cliff Hodge of Meralco in last night’s still-unfinished game at Smart Araneta Coliseum. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

SAN MIG Coffee found a way to wriggle out of the Meralco defense and rode the loss of the Bolts’ import in the third quarter to post a 94-87 decision that moved the Mixers within another win of a PBA Governors’ Cup title series seat.

In the highest scoring game of the series thus far, the Mixers got the goods from rookie Alex Mallari in the wild endgame as San Mig took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series and will gun for a second straight Finals appearance here tomorrow.

Mallari finished with a career-high 23 points in 24 minutes. He had seven points inside the final 2:41 touched off by a triple that made it 84-79, before polishing off the Bolts by hitting four of the Mixers’ final six free throws.

Marqus Blakely added 21 points and 22 rebounds and Mark Barroca and former two-time MVP James Yap combined for another 31 markers for the Mixers.

History has been kind to teams that have taken 2-1 leads after breaking a 1-1 tie, as 20 of the last 30 squads to do so have gone on to win.

And what could make the task easier for the Mixers is that Meralco import Mario West could be out of commission after getting a hard bump from Joe Devance with 4:27 left in the third period which injured his right shoulder.

West never returned to the game and coach Ryan Gregorio admitted that they would be ready to go all-Filipino in tomorrow’s Game 4 at 6:45 p.m. if they need to.

“We are still going to fight through on Sunday, do whatever it takes,” Gregorio said. “He (West) sprained it so bad. It was an obvious bump. But I know Joe Devance to not be a dirty player, but the damage has been done.”

Gregorio also rued the fact that the Mixers were sent to the line for a total of 41 times, compared to their 22.

“We were called for 35 fouls and they were called for 19,” he said. “How can we be called for 35 fouls, when in the eliminations, we were the least in giving up fouls.”

The scores:

SAN MIG COFFEE 94—Mallari 23, Blakely 21, Barroca 18, Yap 13, Devance 7, Pingris 4, Reavis 4, Acuna 2, Simon 2.

MERALCO 87—Cortez 15, West 13, Wilson 13, Hodge 11, Hugnatan 11, Dillinger 10, Salvacion 9, Cardona 3, Reyes 2, Guevarra 0, Ross 0.

Quarters: 17-22, 44-42, 66-64, 94-87