With their backs against the wall, the Mixers grinded out a 79-67 victory over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in their last game of the calendar year Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena to stay alive in their best-of-seven Philippine Cup series.
“The New Year’s celebration is the farthest thing from our minds right now,” said San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone.
The win cut down San Mig Coffee’s series deficit, 3-2, and the Mixers did it despite missing James Yap for most of the game due to foul trouble.
The San Mig Coffee superstar was limited to just two points after playing just 23 minutes. He picked up his fourth and fifth fouls in quick succession with still more than nine minutes left in the third quarter, and did not check in until the 5:32 mark of the fourth quarter, when San Mig was already up, 71-62.
The rest of the Mixers stepped up with their main man out of commission. Joe Devance top-scored with 20 points, while Marc Pingris posted 18 points and 10 rebounds. Peter June Simon and Mark Barroca took care of the perimeter game for San Mig Coffee in Yap’s absence, scoring 16 and 11 points, respectively.
“They really dug deep, they played heavy, heavy minutes,” said Cone.
Pingris, Simon, and Barroca each played at least 41 minutes, with Devance logging 37.
Without its top offensive weapon, San Mig Coffee turned to defense, limiting Rain or Shine to just 32.9 percent shooting from the field. Only one Elasto Painter, Larry Rodriguez, scored in double figures with 14 points.
Rain or Shine’s top guns were silent from the field, with Paul Lee shooting 3-of-12 and Jeff Chan, 1-of-8.
Cone said San Mig Coffee’s only focus would be winning Game Six, which is set on Thursday, January 3, at the same venue.
“They beat us twice in a row. And we believe we can beat them twice in a row,” he said.
The scores:
SANMIG COFFEE 79 – Devance 20, Pingris 18, Simon 16, Barroca 11, Reavis 6, Villanueva 3, Gonzales 3, Yap 2, Intal 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 67 – Rodriguez 14, Cruz 9, Lee 8, Ibanes 8, Matias 7, Norwood 5, Belga 4, Quinahan 4, Tang 3, Chan 3, Tiu 2, Arana 0.
Quarters: 17-15, 31-29, 52-50, 79-67
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