Petron forges title series with San Mig

PETRON Blaze import Elijah Millsap tries to wriggle out of a Rain or Shine triple team of (from left) Gabe Norwood, Jeff Chan and Jonathan Uyloan in last night’s Game 4 at Smart Araneta Coliseum. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Petron Blaze used a hot second-half start and then hung tough the rest of the way to oust a never-say-die Rain or Shine side, 110-89, last night and nail the second slot in the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals.

Elijah Millsap and Alex Cabagnot presided over a 16-0 run that opened up the third period before Marcio Lassiter put on an outside shooting display in the fourth when the Elasto Painters made their last stand as the Boosters wrapped up their best-of-five Final Four series, 3-1, at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Boosters took leads of as many as 70-45 before reaching a best-of-seven title series for the first time in two seasons against sister squad San Mig Coffee, the losing finalist to Rain or Shine last season.

The opener is set  at 7:15 p.m. on Friday at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

The Elasto Painters, who won this tournament in seven gripping games against San Mig last season, came within 10 points but Lassiter drilled two straight treys that restored an 86-70 lead with 9:49 to go.

This will be the 27th title series appearance for the Boosters (formerly San Miguel Beermen), who have won 19 of their first 26 stints. The coming championship playoff will also be the first between Petron and the Mixers in 13 years.

“Right now, we’re living the dream, and we can never stop,” rookie Petron coach Gee Abanilla said.

San Mig wrapped up the first title series slot after a 79-73 win over Meralco on Sunday, also for a 3-1 victory.

Millsap, Cabagnot and Lassiter finished with a combined 84 points, just four shy of  the Painters’ total for the game.

Meanwhile, Greg Slaughter, one of the tallest players to come out of the amateur ranks, has declared himself available for the PBA rookie draft next month and is expected to be picked No. 1 overall.

The 7-foot former Ateneo ace in the UAAP is one of several big names who have applied to join the rookie pool with Barangay Ginebra and San Mig Coffee disputing the first overall pick in a lottery later this week.

The scores:

PETRON 110—Millsap 34, Lassiter 27, Cabagnot 23, Fajardo 9, Santos 8, Lutz 2, Kramer 2, Miranda 2, Tubid 2, Lanete 1, Isip 0.

RAIN OR SHINE 89—Reid 41, Belga 10, Arana 9, Quinahan 7, Norwood 6, Tang 5, Ibanes 5, Tiu 3, Matias 3, Uyloan 0, Cruz 0, Chan 0.

Quarters: 24-25, 46-40, 80-65, 110-89