San Mig needs two overtimes to notch first win
The San Mig Super Coffee Mixers had to work overtime to snap out of an alarming funk. Actually, they had to work double overtime.
With rookie Ian Sangalang coming up big just when he was needed the most, San Mig Super Coffee outlasted stubborn Air21, 92-83, in double overtime to snap a three-game losing skid while notching its first victory in the PLDT myDSL-PBA Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Reeling from three straight setbacks including a 78-91 decision at the hands of pacesetting Petron Blaze last Wednesday, the Mixers had another sluggish start, trailing by as many as 14 points, but recovered their bearings behind guard Mark Barroca and forward Marc Pingris before scrambling anew to keep in step with the gritty Express crew in the first overtime.
The absence of veteran center Asi Taulava and forward Vic Manuel in the second extra period, however, took its toll on Air21 as the 6-foot-7 Sangalang teamed up with the diminutive Barroca and buckled down to work, scoring eight of the team’s 13 points that enabled San Mig Super Coffee to finally nail that elusive ‘W.’
With former two-time league MVP James Yap sidelined with a hyperextended elbow and showing up in street clothes, the 5-foot-10 Barroca took up the offensive cudgels for San Mig with 19 points while five other teammates, including the 6-foot-4 Pingris and Sangalang, scattered 11 markers apiece.
Joseph Yeo led all scorers with 21 points while KG Canaleta, who forced another five-minute extension by draining three clutch free throws with three-tenths of a second left in the first overtime, added 20 markers but the Express still dropped their fourth consecutive outing.
Mac Cardona, who sustained a sprained MCL (media collateral ligament) on his left knee in the off-season, made his debut for the Express and finished with 13 points.
The Main Man: Relative quiet for majority of the match, Ian Sangalang sure knows when to make his presence felt.
Gamely pouncing on the suddenly smaller Express following the absence of Taulava and Manuel due to foul woes, the 6-foot-7 rookie drilled in eight in the Mixers’ 10-2 start in the second overtime that enabled them to breathe comfortably going to the final 2:08 of play.
Sangalang also added eight rebounds and two blocks in 27 solid minutes of action
Honorable Mentions: For the fourth straight outing, guard Mark Barroca proved steady for the Mixers as he dished out an all-around showing of 19 points, eight assists, five rebounds, three steals and a block.
Not to be outdone were Marc Pingris and Rafi Reavis, with the two combining for 30 markers, 27 rebounds, seven assists and two blocks.
Game Turning Point: Air21’s disappointing end started when center Asi Taulava picked up his sixth and final foul as he hacked a driving Marc Pingris just 15 seconds into the second overtime, leaving the Express without an intimidating anchor defensively as Vic Manuel already fouled out in the first overtime.
That enabled San Mig Super Coffee to attack the paint at will as Ian Sangalang utilized his height to the will, with most of his points coming from point-blank range.
He Said It:
San Mig Super Coffee coach Tim Cone: “We just need a win. We need to come out with a win and we don’t care whether it’s an ugly win or a beautiful win. We'll take any win. We'll try to keep ourselves going. PJ Simon’s still out of shape and he didn't have much wind. We got PJ back but lost James (Yap). He injured his right elbow and he didn't have his follow through. Luckily in the overtime, we got some stops and got it. I’m really happy with the character of the guys.”
The scores:
San Mig Super Coffee (92) - Barroca 19, Pingris 15, Reavis 15, Sangalang 14, Mallari 12, Simon 11, Acuna 3, Cawaling 3, De Ocampo 0, Gaco 0, Holstein 0.
Air21 (83) - Yeo 21, Canaleta 20, Manuel 14, Cardona 13, Camson 6, Jaime 5, Taulava 4, Espiritu 0, Arboleda 0, Sharma 0, Custodio 0, Atkins 0.
Quarterscores: 11-20, 30-35, 47-50, 69-69, 79-79, 92-83.
