MANILA, Philippines— San Mig Coffee clinched the 2014 PBA Commissioner’s Cup crown with a 100-91 comeback win in game four Thursday night at the Philsport Arena in Pasig City.
A masterful third quarter turnaround from 16 points down paved way for the Mixers’ title-clinching triumph, which also puts them closer to a rare grand slam this season.
“At half time I screamed at the guys, I yelled them and asked ‘you want to rest already for game 5?’ and all of them said ‘no’,” Tim Cone shared.
San Mig Coffee went from failing to score a field goal in the first six minutes of play to hitting nearly everything in the 21-6 run in the last 6:33 of the game.
“They were more ready to come out in the 2nd half. Everything went our way in the last 6 minutes,” Cone, who notched his 17th title as head coach, added.
San Mig Super Coffee Mixers beat Talk N’ Text to bag their three straight PBA title on Thursday, May 15, 2014 at Philsports Arena in Pasig City. Noy Morcoso lll/INQUIRER.net
The Mixers were behind 58-42 with 9:44 in the third quarter but a 14-0 run midway in the third quarter brought them back to life—for good.
Though Talk N’ Text managed to halt that run by the period’s end and lead by nine early in the fourth, San Mig Coffee just wasn’t about to give up the fight.
“I told them, ‘look we’re not 20-points down anymore.’ I am amazed. I thought they can’t do it, but this team has proven me wrong over and over again,” Cone said.
James Yap led the Mixers’ fourth quarter attack as he poured all of his 10 points including a tough dagger triple with two minutes to play that put them at 93-89.
Yap, whose big shot salvaged San Mig Coffee in game 3, earned the finals Most Valuable Player with an average of 11.5 points in four games.
But Mark Barroca also came up big for the Mixers with 22 points, 12 in the fourth, in game four, while James Mays added 18 points and 15 boards.
San Mig Coffee has won the league’s last three titles including the 2013 PBA Governors’ Cup and last conference’s All-Filipino Cup.
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