Alaska Aces end reign: Mixers, E-Painters reach Final 4

Game tomorrow (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

8 p.m. – Talk n Text vs Rain or Shine

MANILA, Philippines - San Mig Coffee stayed in the hunt for a potential treble while Rain or Shine remained on course for a possible second straight finals as they outfought Alaska Milk and Meralco in their respective knockout matches in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

The Mixers, the Governors Cup and Philippine Cup titlists, ended the Aces’ reign as second conference champs by making a crucial run late in the second quarter and going on to pull off a rousing 79-65 win.

Earlier in the day, the Elasto Painters bungled an 11-point lead late in regulations, but regrouped in extension play and eventually disposed of the Bolts, 97-96.

San Mig Coffee advanced to the Final Four for the seventh straight conference, getting a shot at a third consecutive finals against surprise semifinal qualifier Air21.

The E-Painters are also back in the Last Four, underscoring their own consistency and competitiveness they have developed under coach Yeng Guiao.

Looming big in the horizon for the E-Painters, though, is a best-of-five semis showdown with the top-seeded Talk n Text Tropang Texters.

Rain or Shine and Talk n Text open their semis duel at 8 p.m. tomorrow while San Mig Coffee and Air21 begin their own semis battle also at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

“We have one day to prepare against the best team in the league right now. We look at that as a challenge. If you want to be the best, beat the best,” said Guiao on their faceoff versus Talk n Text.

“In beating San Miguel Beer, coach Franz Pumaren said they slew a dragon. I’m sure they will also look at us as a dragon. Hopefully, we’ll be ready with their irons, swords or whatever,” said San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone on their showdown with Air21.

The Mixers made a decisive move versus Aces curiously after a commotion involving San Mig Coffee governor Rene Pardo and Alaska official Dickie Bachmann. They took the half at 35-27 and stretched their lead to as big as 18 before completing their conquest of the defending champs.

Alaska and Meralco both failed to make the semis though taking the opener in their respective best-of-three quarterfinals.

“We got to the semis a different way. It’s different from the last conference but the important thing is getting to the semis and being consistent,” said Guiao.