Denok Miranda of Barako Bull tries to drive past Petron’s Alex Cabagnot on a pick by Dorian Peña in Tuesday night’s game. Rodel Rotoni
MANILA, Philippines — Sharper offensively and unforgiving on the other end, San Mig Coffee put defending champion Talk ‘N Text on the brink Tuesday night after an authoritative 90-83 Game 1 triumph in their PLDT MyDSL Philippine Cup best-of-three quarterfinal series at Mall of Asia Arena.
The Mixers took control early and then hit seemingly every shot they needed to get out of trouble, keeping the Tropang Texters at bay to move within another win of closing out Talk ‘N Text’s bid to become the first franchise to win this conference four straight years.
It was the fourth straight win for San Mig counting a hot finish to the elimination round, highlighting how in-form the Mixers have gotten of late in their own quest to win the all-Filipino for the first time in years and first under coach Tim Cone.
Peter June Simon scored 20 points with four others shooting 10 or more.
“We played well from start to finish,” Cone said. “I’ve got veterans that play big in the playoffs.
They know what the playoffs is all about. We got off to the good start (in the series), but we still have to figure out how to beat them one more time.”
The potential series-clinching game is slated Friday.
Petron dusted off tentativeness earlier in the night and played with true strength in the fourth quarter to hammer Barako Bull, 101-88, for a similar 1-0 lead in their separate race-to-two affair.
Marcio Lassiter came practically from the airport and scored 13 fourth quarter points, fueling the swashbuckling finish by the Boosters, who can also seal a place in the Final Four with another victory on Friday.
The scores:
First Game
PETRON 101—Lassiter 17, Cabagnot 17, Santos 17, Fajardo 15, Lutz 14, Ross 10, Tubid 6, Lanete 4, Taha 1, Duncil 0, Kramer 0.
BARAKO 88—Miller 17, Buenafe 17, Intal 15, Pena 9, Miranda 9, Wilson 8, Jensen 5, Maierhofer 3, Pennisi 3, Macapagal 2, Lastimosa 0, Marcelo 0.
Quarters: 20-22, 42-49, 67-73, 101-88
Second Game
SAN MIG COFFEE 90—Simon 20, Devance 12, Barroca 11, Yap 11, Pingris 10, De Ocampo 9, Mallari 6, Sangalang 6, Melton 5, Reavis 0.
TALK ‘N TEXT 83—Castro 24, Seigle 15, Alapag 12, De Ocampo 11, Canaleta 8, Fonacier 5, Williams 4, Carey 4, Aban 0, Peek 0, Reyes R. 0, Reyes J. 0.
Quarters: 15-13, 40-32, 69-60, 90-83