San Mig takes low-scoring Game 3, 77-76

This time, San Mig Super Coffee made sure it won’t be hit by a last-second lightning blot from Rain or Shine.

The Super Coffee Mixers clawed back from nine points down behind a balanced attack then mustered enough defensive stops in the stretch to hold off the Elasto Painters in a heart-stopping windup Wednesday night 77-76 and gain a 2-1 series lead in their PLDT-myDSL PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

After starting slow due to foul trouble on their main men, including two-time MVP James Yap, San Mig Super Coffee got its offensive flow going in the third canto before coming through with a masterful defensive job on Rain or Shine in the payoff period, limiting its rivals to just 12 points.

The Mixers’ defensive blanket came to the fore fullest in the last 10.6 seconds when defensive lynchpin Marc Pingris held his ground and forced Painters top sniper Jeff Chan to take a three-point attempt from the right flank, with the leather hitting just the side of the rim just before the time expired.

Four players, led by PJ Simon’s 14 points, scored in double figures but it was their collective defense that enabled the Mixers to gain a fitting follow-up to their 80-70 victory in Game 2 last Sunday.

Going down the drain with the Painters’ loss was the 23-point explosion of guard Paul Lee, who made the go-ahead alley-oop basket that powered them to an equally thrilling 83-80 win in the opener last Friday.

The Mixers shoot for a commanding 3-1 lead in Game 4 of the their best-of-seven finals series on Friday also at the Big Dome.

After falling behind by as many as 30-39 in the opening half and by eight early in the third canto, the Mixers wheeled back into the game behind the exploits of Yap, who racked up 11 big points despite nursing four personal fouls, and pulled to within 63-64 going to the final 12 minutes.

Rain or Shine then regained control, posting a 70-65 lead off a Chan bucket, but San Mig Coffee, with its defense starting to get tighter, charged back and leaned on the clutch plays of the 6-foot-5 Pingris, who wreak havoc in the post and found his Mixers teammates for easy buckets in the lane with regularity, enabling them to take a 77-74 cushion going into the final 2:59 of play.

Sensing another thrilling windup, both teams refused to give an inch in the crunch and only Rain or Shine made the lone field goal, courtesy of a Jervy Cruz left-handed lay-up off a Gabe Norwood dish that made it a one-point game with 1:28 left.

Although they still had plenty of timeouts left, San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone refused to use any and nearly paid the price as Yap airballed a well-challenged 30-footer, leaving the door ajar for Rain or Shine.

Although head coach Yeng Guiao sued for time and mapped out another potentially game-winning play with 10.6 seconds left, the Painters couldn't get a good look as the Mixers locked down anew, capped by Pingris’ stance that hardly gave Chan any choice but to take a long heave as the final horn sounded.
 
The Main Man: No doubt, Marc Pingris remains as the Mixers’ heart and soul.

More than his seven-point output, the do-it-all forward made his presence felt in more ways than one, notably in issuing a team-high five assists, four of them coming in the decisive 8-2 run that gave them a 77-74 lead going to the last three minutes.

Pingris, who also had eight rebounds, came through with a clutch defensive gem against RoS gunner Jeff Chan in the closing seconds.
 
Honorable Mentions: Despite being slowed down by foul trouble, including three quick fouls–all against RoS defender Jireh Ibanes–in the first period, James Yap still caught fire in the third period where he made all but two of his 13 points.

Also giving the Mixers ample support were the likes of PJ Simon, Joe Devance, rookie Ian Sangalang and center Rafi Reavis.
 
Game Turning Point: With the game on the line just like in the series opener, the Mixers wouldn’t be denied this time as they came up with a big defensive stop in the last 10.6 seconds, with Marc Pingris doing all the best he can not to let RoS star guard Jeff Chan gain a higher percentage attempt and forcing him to take a 30-footer just before the time expired.
 
He Said It:
San Mig Super Coffee coach Tim Cone: “What an awesome game. It was a back-and-forth game. James gave us enough of an edge–keeping us in there. He gave us a chance to let guys come in and fill the void. We just kept finding ways to stay in the game and down to the last few possessions. But I thought the guys played a little tired tonight.”
 
The scores:
 
SAN MIG SUPER COFFEE (77) - Simon 14, Devance 13, Yap 13, Sangalang 12, Barroca 8, Pingris 7, Mallari 5, Reavis 4, Melton 1, De Ocampo 0.

RAIN OR SHINE (76) - Lee 23, Chan 11, Cruz 10, Almazan 7, Belga 6, Rodriguez 6, Quinahan 5, Norwood 4, Tiu 2, Ibanes 2, Tang 0, Teng 0.

Quarterscores: 19-20, 38-39, 63-64, 77-76.