Video by Ryan Leagogo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — San Mig Coffee nipped Rain or Shine, 93-90, in another wild wind-up on Friday to move to a win away from the 2014 PLDT MyDSL PBA Philippine Cup crown.
The Mixers, after leading by as many as 13 in the first half, found themselves in a tight finish for the second straight game and third time in this back-and-forth seven-game series.
Joe Devance of San Mig Coffee (light) vs Paul Lee of Rain or Shine (dark). Nuki Sabio/PBA
But San Mig Coffee held on anew, with a split from Ian Sangalang and two free throws from Mark Barroca in the final 22 ticks to give them the needed cushion.
“We were fortunate again [today],” said head coach Tim Cone. “This game came down the wire again.”
Barroca scored 10 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter while Joe Devance poured eight of his 12 in that period as well for the Mixers.
Sangalang and James Yap also wound up with 17 points apiece.
San Mig Coffee trailed by six at the end of the third period but willed back into the game and regained the lead 80-78 and never relinquished it anew.
The Mixers pushed the lead to six with four minutes left, and again with a minute and half to play but it was nowhere near a comfortable advantage against the Elastopainters.
A triple from Paul Lee and a split from JR Quinahan dragged Rain or Shine to within two points, 88-90, before Sangalang’s charities.
Lee, who had a valiant 28-point production, struck again on a drive to cut it to one with 17.1 seconds but Elastopainters used all of their timeouts left and failed to score after that.
Lee actually had a final heave from way out, but the three-pointer caromed out of the rim as the time expired.
“I really thought that Paul Lee shot was in, I thought we’re going into overtime,” Cone said.
The Mixers have a chance to wrap it all up on Sunday in game 5 of the finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.