MANILA, Philippines -Hindi na inaasahan ng San Mig Coffee na magla-laro pa sila sa Game Seven sa Biyernes.
Bitbit ang 3-2 bentahe sa best-of-seven championship series, pipilitin ng Mixers na tapusin ang Petron Blaze Boosters sa Game Six ngayong alas-8 ng gabi para sa 2013 PBA Governors’ Cup sa Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Matapos maiwanan ng Petron sa serye sa 1-2, dalawang sunod na panalo ang kinuha ng San Mig Coffee sa Game Four, 88-86, noong Biyernes at sa Game Five, 114-103, noong Linggo.
Hangad ng Mixers ang kanilang pang-10 PBA championship, samantalang target ni mentor Tim Cone na mapantayan ang 15 korona ni legendary coach Baby Dalupan.
“The next game is going to be a lot harder than this one, that’s for sure,†sabi ni Cone. “We’ve got to find a way to keep them uncomfortable. Just play, that’s what we got to do in Game 6. Just play.â€
Kagaya ng nangyari sa Game Five, muling ipapabantay ni Cone kay 5-foot-8 point guard Mark Barroca si 6’5 Boosters’ import Elijah Millsap.
Maliban sa pagdedepensa kay Millsap ay naglista din si Barroca ng career high-tying na 22 points at personal best na 10 assists para sa Mixers.
“Mark’s defense on Millsap was out of this world,†ani Cone sa dating pambato ng Far Eastern University. “To see a 5’8 guy playing a 6’5 and playing him well.â€
Nagtala si Millsap ng 37 points at 14 rebounds para sa Petron.
Muling aasahan ng Mixers sina Barroca, Best Import Marqus Blakely, two-time PBA Most Valuable Player James Yap, Joe Devance, PJ Simon, Marc Pingris at rookie Alex Mallari.
Kumpiyansa si Boosters’ rookie coach Gee Abanilla na makakatabla sila sa serye sa pangunguna nina Millsap, 2013 PBA MVP at Best Player of the Conference Arwind Santos, rookie center June Mar Fajardo, Alex Cabagnot, Marcio Lassiter at Chris Lutz.