PJ SImon vs Mark Caguioa. PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio
MANILA, Philippines – Banking on its defense, San Mig Coffee stifled fierce rival Barangay Ginebra San Miguel 78-68 Sunday night in the 38th PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Joe Devance took advantage of the mismatch to lead the Mixers with 18 points.
“We played a great defensive game tonight. There were times Ginebra shot themselves on the foot for us. Their layups didn’t fall, they fumbled the ball,” said head coach Tim Cone. “That’s what happens when you lose some games.”
“It helps when Joe (Devance) steps out and hit threes,” added Cone as his team improved to 5-2 while dealing Ginebra its fifth straight setback.
Devance made four of his five attempts from deep and grabbed five rebounds.
“Our defense got a little sloppy in the fourth quarter but in the first three quarters we were sharp.”
The Kings had 23 turnovers, most of which were unforced errors.
Adding to the Kings woes, Dylan Ababou was carried out of the court after injuring his right knee late in the opening period and did not return.
Ginebra hardly got into a rhythm as playmaker LA Tenorio was mostly a non-factor with San Mig Coffee’s defense draped all over him.
Mark Caguioa paced Ginebra, which trailed by as much as 22 points, with 16 points but took 18 shots and had four errors.
Ginebra made late push but was quickly snuffed out by Mark Barroca, who nailed a jumper that extended the Mixers advantage back to 14, 78-64, with only 1:37 left.