Yap sizzles late as Mixers take a controversial Game 1 win against Painters

For three and a half quarters, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters looked like they were headed for a surprising 1-0 advantage. However, the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers found their resolve like they have often done in their multi-championship run to steal a 104-101 Game 1 victory, Tuesday night at the Mall of Asia Arena, with an ending filled with controversy.

Up by three with three seconds to go, Paul Lee leapt for a three point shot after a step-back move. Marc Pingris leapt forward to defend him, biting on Lee’s fake. The two collided mid air resulting to Lee losing the ball but the referees did not blow their whistles.

The Rain or Shine bench exploded in frustration but there was nothing they could do to reverse the call.

The Mixers were down by as much as 17 points as the Painters looked flawless on offense. However, an 11-2 run late in the third quarter sparked a big run by the Mixers.

Allein Maliksi heated up early in the fourth quarter to claw the Mixers back into the ball game and Big Game James Yap was unleashed in the closing moments of the game, nailing a go-ahead triple and a long two to swing the game to the Mixers.

Yap’s late explosion won him the Best Player of the Game award.

As usual, Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao had a unique starting lineup. It was a ballsy move from the fiery coach as he started two rookies in Raymond Almazan and Alex Nuyles.

The rookies did not give a very good account of themselves in the opening period as the Mixers took a 20-16 lead, prompting the entry of Beau Belga and Paul Lee. Right on cue Belga scored on a triple and Lee grabbed eight points against a single basket from James Yap to give the Painters a 27-22 lead.

Arizona Reid closed out the first for Rain or Shine with two free throws while Devance scored on a floater for San Mig for a 29-24 count after the first 12 minutes.

The Painters continued to push the tempo in the second quarter. Fast break attacks were joined by triples from Reid and Jeff Chan. Jervy Cruz ended the first half with a baseline jumper for a 57-46 lead heading into the break.

Reid led the Painters with 35 points with Jeff Chan helping him out with 17. Paul Lee had 11 while Beau Belga had 10 but none of these came as the Mixers took the game away in the fourth quarter.

San Mig Super Coffee’s defense remained absent at the start of the third quarter as they allowed Rain or Shine to grab a 17-point lead. The Mixers finally woke up late in the third as they brought down their deficit to eight at 73-65 on an 11-2 run.

Allein Maliksi ended the third quarter by banking in a short jumper to cut Rain or Shine’s lead 78-71 heading into the fourth quarter.

The shock troopers of the Mixers stepped up to being the payoff period as Maliksi and Justin Melton got things going for San Mig to cut Rain or Shine’s lead down to five at 82-77.

Ian Sangalang joined the bench mob attack for the Mixers as an inside basket inched them closer at 85-83 halfway into the final period.

The Mixers cut the Rain or Shine lead down to a single point in four separate instances but they could to tie or take the lead. Yap finally tied the game, 94-all, at the 2:03 mark but he missed on the bonus free throw which would have given them the lead.

Marc Pingris however committed a foul on the other end which led to two made free throws from Reid. The energetic San Mig forward took it right back with an basket down low in the next possession.

Reid however have the Painters back the lead with a tough fallaway jumper but Yap replied with a huge triple with a minute left in the game to claim the lead 99-98.

After completing a stop on the other end, the Mixers went to Yap again and he responded with a long jumper for a 101-98 lead with 16.6 seconds left in the game.

The Painters struggled to get the ball inbound but they managed to get a wide open three for Gabe Norwood but he missed it forcing Beau Belga to foul Marqus Blakely.

The San Mig import is not know as a good free throw shooter but he swished both charities to put the game away with a 103-98 lead with only eight seconds left in the game.

Game 2 is on Thursday at 8 pm at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

The Main Man: Yap did not score a lot with 14 points but his contributions in the last quarter of Game 1 spelled the difference between a win and a loss for the Mixers.

Honorable Mentions: Simon led the Mixers in scoring with 18 in the game but Joe Devance and Maliksi also gave crucial contributions as the Mixers chipped away at the Painters’ huge lead.

Game Turning Point: Simon left a glimmer of hope for the Painters as he missed one of his two free throws. With the Painters gearing for a game-tying triple, Lee collided with Pingris but the referees did not call a foul. Instead of three free throws and a chance to send the game into an overtime period, the Painters were dealt a 0-1 hole in the short finals series.

They Said It:

San Mig Super Coffee head coach Tim Cone: I don’t know whether that was a foul or not. I was far away. The second group really gave us a lift. Maliksi's energy gave us a spark. We have all the respect for this team hopefully we're smart enough to know that we can't come out flat in a game in this series. James, the tough 3 and the tough leaning jumper, he made it look easy at a very crucial time.

Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao: I just thought Paul got fouled on that last play. AZ Reid got the same call and they game him the three shots. That's just too big a break to lose. Lee got called for a foul jockeying for position against Sangalang but he was the one pushed. This is going to be a close series, close games but if the refs dont do their jobs as they're supposed to, it really diminishes the beauty of the series. We just have to put this behind us but we're an underdog team; that was a break we deserve but we did not get it

They Said It (on Twitter):

The scores:

SAN MIG SUPER COFFEE 104 - Simon 18, Pingris 14, Yap 14, Blakely 13, Barroca 11, Maliksi 10, Devance 10, Sangalang 7, Reavis 5, Melton 2, Mallari 0.

RAIN OR SHINE 101 - Reid 35, Chan 17, Lee 12, Belga 11, Norwood 7, Almazan 6, Arana 5, Cruz 2, Tiu 2, Nuyles 2, Ibanes 2, Rodriguez 0.

Quarters: 24-29, 46-57, 71-78, 104-101