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Mixers bank on their bench to defeat and eliminate the San Miguel Beermen

When the chips are down, San Mig Super Coffee head coach Tim Cone could always look–and lean–on his vastly-improving shocktroopers.

Foremost among those who answered the call was speedster Justin Melton, who provided the needed spark in helping the Super Coffee Mixers eliminate the San Miguel Beermen Tuesday night 97-90 and advance to the PLDT Home Telpad PBA Governors Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

With starting shooting guard PJ Simon sidelined by back spasms and former two-time league MVP James Yap struggling to find his usual rhythm, the diminutive Melton stood tall and even starred in San Mig Super Coffee’s “bench mob” in the payoff canto that allowed them to seize control and held off the late-charging San Miguel Beer in an expected tight finish.

Melton, a high-leaping 5-foot-9 rookie, finished with 16 points on an efficient 6-of-9 shooting from the field and injected the needed energy together with fellow reserves Allein Maliksi, Alex Mallari and Ian Sangalang, who took turns in helping the Mixers turn a six-point deficit into a 79-74 cushion going to the pivotal stretch in the payoff canto.

From there, San Mig Super Coffee’s do-it-all import Marqus Blakely, along with starters Marc Pingris and Mark Barroca, held their ground defensively and made the needed buckets to deny San Miguel Beer’s any kind of late-uprising.

The victory, barely 24 hours after absorbing a painful 94-95 setback against Rain or Shine, enabled No. 4 San Mig Super Coffee, the reigning titlist, to forge what promises to be an explosive best-of-five semifinals showdown with top-ranked Talk ‘N Text.

The Mixers also put an end to the Beermen’s disappointing campaign this season, with their sister team heading into another off-season with plenty of questions that needs to be answered.

Blakely, the conference’s reigning Best Import who helped them claw back from an early 12-27 deficit, came through with his usual numbers of 25 points, 18 rebounds and five blocks but it was Melton and the reserves who gave the needed lift and set the tone for an impressive finishing kick.

A 13-2 run, anchored by Melton, saw the Mixers enjoy a 79-74 lead before San Miguel Beer import Reggie Williams racked up six of the next nine points, tying things up at 81-apeiece midway through the payoff canto.

The Mixers, however, have plenty of energy left as Pingris and Barroca checked back in and, together with Blakely and Melton, conspired in a telling 12-2 surge that gave them a 93-83 with less than two minutes left.
San Miguel Beer, however, continued to entertain hopes of a late rally behind veteran Ronald Tubid who knocked down a pair of triples that pulled them within 90-95 with less than 40 seconds left.

Barroca kept the door still ajar when he muffed his pair of freebies but the Beermen failed to capitalize, with Tubid misfiring a triple that allowed the former Far Eastern U guard to redeem himself and ice the game with two freebies, sealing the deal going to the final 24 seconds.
 
The Main Man: Justin Melton continued to prove why he is considered as the “steal” of this season’s rookie draft as he came up big that helped the Mixers overcome the absence of guard PJ Simon and an “off-night” from star James Yap in 24 quality minutes of play.
 
Honorable Mentions: As expected, Marqus Blakely produced another solid line of stats–25 points, 18 rebounds and five blocks.
 
Game Turning Point: After the Beermen tied things up at 81-apiece, the Mixers made sure their reserves’ exploits won’t go down the drain as import Marqus Blakely, Marc Pingris, Mark Barroca and Justin Melton teamed up in scoring 12 of the next 14 points, allowing them to keep full control.
 
He Said It:
San Mig Super Coffee coach Tim Cone: Justin (Melton) stepped up big time along with Allein (Maliksi). Those guys stepped up. I couldn’t take Justin off the floor with the way he’s playing.

They Said It (on Twitter):


 
The scores:
 
SAN MIG SUPER COFFEE 97 – Blakely 25, Melton 16, Devance 14, Maliksi 9, Pingris 8, Sangalang 8, Yap 7, Barroca 6, Mallari 2, Reavis 2, Taha 0.

SAN MIGUEL BEER 90 – Williams 21, Santos 21, Fajardo 16, Tubid 8, Lassiter 8, Ross 5, Mercado 4, Maierhofer 3, Kramer 2, Lutz 2, Lanete 0.

Quarters: 14-27, 44-48, 66-70, 97-90.