Mixers, Beermen stay hot

MANILA, Philippines – San Mig Super Coffee stayed unbeaten after turning its Phil. Cup Finals rematch against Rain or Shine into a rout, 91-74, Saturday night in the PLDT Home TVolution PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

PJ Simon waxed hot early while James Yap found his rhythm in the third quarter as the Mixers ran away with their third straight win.

Simon had eight in the opening quarter while Yap scored eight of his nine in the third canto where the Mixers broke the game wide open.

James Mays pumped in 18 points and 15 rebounds while Simon and Marc Pingris added 16 and 10 points, respectively. 

In the curtain-raiser, San Miguel Beermen fended off a spirited chase by Barako Bull and survived Josh Dollard’s explosive 46-point outburst to eke out a 106-100 win.

San Miguel import Kevin Jones, however, scored when it mattered most as the Beermen kept within striking distance of the leaders with their fourth win in five games.

Jones’ five-point binge in the final two minutes sealed the game as Dollard came up short in the end.

The fiery Dollard fired 30 points in the second half including three straight triples and a Mick Pennisi trey of his own gave the Energy Cola the lead, 87-84, early in the fourth.  But the Beermen played cool under pressure with Jones delivering at crunchtime.

The Mixers, meanwhile, are off to their best start under Tim Cone but the league’s winningest coach is not thinking ahead of a possible third straight championship.

“I’m not that big on starts. To me it’s all about how the players are connecting,” Tim Cone told Philstar.com right after the big win over their rivals.  

The Elasto Painters actually stayed afloat against the Mixers in the rebounding (50-all) and assists (19-all) department but the Mixers shot 47 percent from the field compared to the former’s paltry 36 percent.

Rain or Shine fell to 1-3 while Barako Bull stayed at ninth spot with 1-4 slate.