PBA: Surging Mixers take quarterfinals opener over Texters

PJ Simon of San Mig Coffee (dark) vs Jimmy Alapag of Talk N Text (light). PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines—San Mig Coffee repelled repeated rallies by Talk ‘N Text to win, 90-83, and take Game 1 of their best-of-three quarterfinals duel in the 2014 PLDT MyDSL Philippine Cup Tuesday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Guard PJ Simon scored 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds for San Mig Coffee, which has now won five straight after closing the elimination round with a four-game winning streak to nab the fifth seed.

“We played well from start to finish. We got off to a pretty good start they never got their three-point shot going and that spelled the difference and that was really our concern getting out to their shooters,” said San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone.

“That’s what veteran do,” Cone, whose squad led by as much as 15, 52-37, in the third quarter, said of Simon’s performance.

The Tropang Texters pulled to within four, 66-71, on a 3-pointer by Jimmy Alapag with 10:07 left but the Mixers quickly responded with seven unanswered points capped by an open trey by Simon to extend their lead back to 12, 78-66, with 7:45 remaining.

Their series resumes on Friday at the same venue with the Mixers looking to sweep the Tropang Texters and barge into the semifinals.

“Hopefully we can repeat it on Friday. We still have to figure out how to beat them one more time.”

Niño Canaleta scored eight points on just three-of-10 shooting from the field and had five rebounds in his Talk ‘N Text debut.

The Texters have now lost four of their last five games.

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