Millsap shrugs off pain, helps Petron force decider

Game tomorrow (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

8 p.m. – Petron vs San Mig Coffee

MANILA, Philippines – Elijah Millsap twice writhed in pain after twisting his left foot but twice returned to personally fight off San Mig Coffee’s challenge as the Petron Blaze Boosters tripped the Mixers, 99-88, to force a deciding Game Seven in the PLDT Telpad PBA Governors Cup Finals before a crowd of over 15,000 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.

Millsap played through with the injury and carried the Boosters on his shoulders, firing away nine straight points to save Petron from imminent collapse in the homestretch.

Chris Lutz, Alex Cabagnot and Marcio Lassiter also banged away clutch shots later as the Boosters forged the three-game-all tie in the best-of-seven series.

“We’re just very happy with the opportunity presented to us. Playing San Mig Coffee is a big challenge. Playing them in a Game Seven is an honor. It’s anybody’s game. We’re gonna do our best effort to best represent our organization,” said Petron Blaze coach Gee Abanilla.

“It’s unbelievable. We just don’t want to lose the game,” said Millsap, Petron’s biggest savior foiling San Mig’s first of two cracks at closing out the series.

“We certainly had our chances. We wanted to avoid a winner-take-all game but too many things happened,” rued San Mig coach Tim Cone.

“We didn’t play real well. We’re okay but not great. As I’ve been saying all along we can’t beat this team if we don’t work on all cylinders. We didn’t have that tonight,” Cone also said.

It’s Petron which played its A-game, particularly Millsap who sizzled with a game-high 30 points that went with eight rebounds, six assists and two steals.

He was at his best when needed the most by his team after the Mixers had wiped out a 16-point spread, surging ahead at 82-80.

After Millsap put in nine straight markers, Petron was back on top at 89-86.

Petron aggressively attacked San Mig’s defense right at the start, sending Marqus Blakely, Rafi Reavis, Alex Mallari and Mark Barroca to early foul-trouble situation.

The Boosters gained a big edge in foul shooting in the first half, earning 22 charities and converting 16 compared to the Mixers’ 8-of-16 clip.

Millsap had collected 14 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals while Junmar Fajardo had piled up 12 markers and 10 boards as Petron took the half at 52-39.

Alex Cabagnot and Millsap buried three-pointers to touch off and close a 10-to-nothing run Petron unleashed to take early commanding lead at 19-11.

The Boosters stayed in full control until the Mixers worked on a big run in the third quarter and threatened at 59-61. The Mixers had a chance to tie but Marc Pingris muffed an undergoal shot.

Petron weathered the San Mig storm right in the third period, though, reestablishing control at 74-61 on a 13-2 counterattack.

Millsap ignited this crucial romp in firing a three-pointer upon his return to the floor after hurting his left foot the second time in the game.