Coffee Mixers blend well sans Yap, survive

Game today (MOA Arena)

5 p.m. – Alaska vs Talk n Text (series tied, 2-2)

MANILA, Philippines - San Mig Coffee gutted it out even with James Yap on the bench for a long time, eking out a 79-67 triumph to stay alive in the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals last night at the MOA Arena.

Yap played just 23 minutes due to foul trouble and finished with a meager two points but Joe Devance, Marc Pingris, PJ Simon and Mark Barroca rose to the occasion and spearheaded a fourth-quarter breakaway that allowed the Coffee Mixers to live for another day.

The Elasto Painters, who were looking to march into the finals with a win last night, still lead the series, 3-2, and would have another crack in Game Six on Jan. 3.

Meanwhile, defending titlist Talk n Text and Alaska dispute the pivotal third win today at 5 p.m. also at the MOA Arena to gain the headway in their own semis duel that is even after fiercely-fought after four games.

The Aces hacked out series-tying 104-99 victory in Friday night’s Game Four, effectively making it a race-to-two affair against a Texters side whose coach Norman Black rued what he perceived were “confusing calls” that he felt went the Aces’ way.

“Everybody stepped up for their brother, their leader James (Yap),”  said San Mig coach Tim Cone. “They talked about it and said that’s what we have to do and they did.”

Yap committed his fifth personal foul via two successive offensive fouls at the start of the third and had to stay agonizingly longer on the bench.

Offsetting his absence, De Vance led the way with 20 points, seven rebounds and four assists as Pingris (18 markers, 10 boards)  and Simon (16 points, 11 rebounds) each had a double-double performance. Barroca added 11 points with four steals.

Together, the four accounted for all but three of their 27 points in the payoff canto that swayed the game to the Coffee Mixers’ side.

And they were the unsung heroes, too.

“Guys like JC Intal, Jonas Villanueva and Wesley Gonzales got limited minutes but played their hearts out. I’m really proud of these guys for going out there and stepping up when we needed them,” said Cone.

Intal was scoreless in nine minutes but grabbed four rebounds to go with one assist, one steal and one shot block, while Villanueva had three markers and the same number of assists. Gonzales shot three points – a trey that touched off a 21-13 salvo that gave San Mig a 73-63 lead.

The Mixers and the Elasto Painters will take a five-day break before hitting the court again for Game Six after a four-day break.

“If we’re gonna do this (comeback from 1-3 deficit), it will be one game at a time. They beat us twice in a row and we believe we can beat them twice in a row. That’s all we;re thinking right now, trying to win the next game,” said Cone.

Larry Rodriguez was the lone player for Rain or Shine in double figures with 14 markers and seven rebounds.