Mixers outplay Texters in OT for 1-0 lead in PBA semis

Marqus Blakely of San Mig (dark) vs Paul Harris and Ranidel De Ocampo of Talk N Text (light). PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines–San Mig Coffee outplayed Talk ’N Text in overtime, 92-88, to go up 1-0 in the 2014 PBA Govenors’ Cup semifinals Thursday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Made possible by a game-tying triple by Allein Maliksi in regulation, the Mixers buried the Texters with a 12-3 run in OT.

“We just kinda battled to stay in the game and we gave our chance to win the end,” said head coach Tim Cone whose squad is fighting for a rare Grand Slam.

“In overtime, we just pounded the ball inside and created opportunities for ourselves. But overall it was scattered performance by us.”

San Mig Coffee came out of a 66-75 hole with a little over six minutes to play by holding Talk ’N Text to just two points in the last five minutes.

Marqus Blakely, who finished with 20 points, put the Mixers within 74-75 with 49.3 ticks left but Jayson Castro tried to put the game out of reach for the Texters in the ensuing play.

Blakely, though, found Maliksi at the left corner and the returning forward knocked down the triple with 21.2 seconds left to send the game to OT.

Blakely also had 10 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and steals for San Mig Coffee. James Yap, who was injured in the third quarter, added 13 points.

Mark Barroca had 11 points, more than half of which coming in OT while Maliksi and Marc Pingris each chipped in 10 points.

The series, which is actually a rematch of last conference’s finals, continues on Saturday with the Texters aiming to stave off a 0-2 pit.

Jayson Castro led Talk ‘N Text with 24 points, six rebounds and seven assists, Ranidel De Ocampo added 19 and 13, and import Paul Harris had 17 and 10.