San Mig Coffee overcomes huge deficit to stun Rain or Shine in Game 1
Video by INQUIRER.net’s Ryan Leagogo
MANILA, Philippines—San Mig Coffee rose from a commanding deficit to steal Game 1 away from Rain or Shine, 104-101, and move two games shy from winning the 2014 PBA Governors’ Cup and a Grand Slam Tuesday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.
James Yap scored 10 of his 14 points in the final 7:37 of the game to help the Mixers complete their comeback from 17 points down in the third quarter.
“‘Big Game’ James hitting those two big shots. The tough three and a tough leaning jumper off a hand off. Those were two of the toughest shots in basketball and he made it easy at a very crucial time. He’s been stepping up and playing big when we need him,” marveled San Mig Coffee head coach Tim cone, who is now just a couple of wins away from an 18th PBA title and a second Grand Slam after steering Alaska in 1996.
Yap gave the Mixers the edge, 99-98, on a contested 3-pointer with 57.8 seconds left before padding onto their lead, 101-98, off a fade away with 16.6 ticks remaining.
James Yap of San Mig (light) vs Ryan Arana of Rain or Shine (dark). PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio
The two-time MVP Yap may have hit the game’s biggest shots but he just finished the job that the Mixers’ second group had started.
“Our second group with Justin, Mark, Ian and Rafi really gave us a lift and Allein of course. Allein was fabulous. I wouldn’t have taken him out but his energy gave us the spark,” said Cone. “The last two or three minutes of the game, our first group came out, was able to pull it off. But the Credit goes all to the second group for getting us back into the game and getting us the lead.”
Maliksi, the inaugural PBA D-League MVP, fired all of his 10 points in the second half that trimmed the Painters’ lead to within reach.
“Bottom line is, we didn’t play a good half. We came out remarkably flat in a championship game and I was incredulous at halftime that we could play that way. But as is the character of this team, they do a good job of talking to each other and just making a collective decision that they are gonna come out and play,” Cone said after his team fell behind big early.
Game 2 is on Thursday, 8 p.m., at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Elasto Painters seemed well on their way to rout after taking a 71-54 lead after a put back by Ryan Araña at the 5:42 mark of the third period.
ROS import Arizona Reid led all scorers with 35 points that went with 12 rebounds while Jeff Chan had 17.
PJ Simon tallied a team-high 18 points for the Mixers while Marc Pingris also posted 14. Import Marqus Blakey had just four points en route to a 13-point night. He didn’t score his first field goal in the second half until the 1:45 mark of the third quarter.
Both teams shot at least 50% from the field with the Mixers shooting 55%.
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