PBA: Three straight for San Mig Coffee as Mixers earn Comm. Cup crown at Talk 'N Text's expense

The San Mig Coffee Mixers were crowned champions of the 2014 PBA Commissioner's Cup, vanquishing the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters in four games, 100-91, on Thursday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

The Mixers won the best-of-five series 3-1. They previously won last season’s Governors’ Cup, and the 2013-14 Philippine Cup. With this Commissioner’s Cup win, they are now in position to achieve a rare grand slam, should they triumph anew in this year’s season-ending conference.

The venue added a bit of nostalgia as well for Mixers head coach Tim Cone, who won his 17th title. The last team to clinch a championship in the arena was his Alaska Aces in 2003 Invitationals.

James Yap was named Finals MVP for scoring all of his 10 points in the crucial rally that pushed the Mixers over the hump. Mark Barroca top-scored with 22 points, while import James Mays added 18 points and 15 rebounds.

Joe Devance and Ian Sangalang each added 12 points, while Justin Melton scattered 11 markers.

The outcome couldn't have been more different than the opening half, when the Mixers were getting beat every which way and were down by as much as 17 in the third period. "I yelled at the guys at halftime and said you should be ashamed of yourselves," said Cone. “’You guys decide whether you wanna rest for game five, you let me know,’ I said. And they started shouting ‘no, no, no, we're not ready.’

"They battled and battled and battled," said Cone, "and everything just went our way in the last six minutes of the ball."

James Yap made his presence felt midway through the fourth, as he and Mark Barroca shredded defenses during a 14-4 run as the quarter wound down. Yap then sank a long trey with two minutes left to seize a 93-89 lead, which forced the Texters to sue for time.

Talk 'N Text turned the ball over on the following possession, and after Jayson Castro and Alex Mallari traded makes, the Mixers secured an offensive board that led to a Barroca layup, 97-91. The Texters' confidence was shaken, and they could only watch as miscues led to more Mixers points to pad the final tally.

"I'm really proud of James for winning the Finals MVP. James hit the two biggest shots in the series," he said. "That three-pointer I felt broke Talk 'N Text."

"I pointed to the scoreboard and told the guys [in the last few minutes], ‘We're not down by 20 anymore. We can make our comeback,’” said Cone. "This team continues to surprise me. I've given up on them a lot sooner than they've given up on themselves.

"This is my third time to get three straight. the work that goes into this is astounding, and it started long ago, building on trust and the desire to be a little different and a little special," continued Cone. "I think that this is something that not many teams have done before and they take pride in that."

The Texters were a picture of efficiency to start the game, and set up Richard Howell and Ranidel De Ocampo for 14 early points. Talk 'N Text scored on almost every possession, and posted a 17-1 lead after the first five minutes.

San Mig Coffee netted just four field goals in the quarter and were misfiring from the stripe. All four buckets came from Ian Sangalang and Justin Melton, who were inserted midway through the frame, but the rookie duo couldn't get their team back on track. At the end of the first, Talk 'N Text held a 25-15 lead.

The two rookies sustained San Mig Coffee for a good portion of the second, combining for nine to trim the lead to six, 34-28. But they couldn’t get closer, as Talk 'N Text waxed hot from the perimeter. Jimmy Alapag and De Ocampo's long bombs keyed a 15-6 spree, and helped the Texters take a 52-38 advantage going into the intermission.

KG Canaleta turned it on in the third, hitting triples en route to 11 points and offsetting the Mixers forwards' incursions in the paint, 68-55. But Talk 'N Text's shots stopped falling from outside, and San Mig Coffee seized control of the game. Mark Barroca knocked down a trey, and Sangalang pounded the ball inside to lead a 14-0 run late in the quarter, for a 69-68 lead. However, Talk 'N Text ended a five-minute drought in style, as Jayson Castro and Alapag booked back-to-back triples to finish the quarter, 74-69.

Talk 'N Text put on their best shooting performance of the series, making 11-of-33 (33 percent) from the arc and 39-of-82 (47.6 percent) overall. The Mixers went 6-of-14 (42.9 percent) on threes and 32-of-66 (48.5 percent) overall.

San Mig Coffee made 30-of-41 (73.2 percent) of their charities, while Talk 'N Text attempted only two free throws all game, making them both.

The Mixers took better care of the ball, committing only 12 turnovers to Talk 'N Text's 17, and led 26-14 in turnover points. The Texters led in assists, 19-12.

Jimmy Alapag paced his team with 17 points, five rebounds and five assists. Richard Howell added 16 points and 12 rebounds. Ranidel De Ocampo and KG Canaleta each had 16 points and four rebounds, while Kelly Williams notched 12 points. - AMD, GMA News


The scores:

SAN MIG COFFEE 100 - Barroca 22, Mays 18, Devance 12, Sangalang 12, Melton 11, Yap 10, Pingris 6, Simon 6, Reavis 2, Mallari 1, De Ocampo 0, Gaco 0

TALK ’N TEXT 91 - Alapag 17, Howell 16, De Ocampo 16, Canaleta 16, Willaims 12, Castro 5, Reyes 5, Seigle 2, Carey 2, Fonacier 0

Quarter scoring: 15-25, 38-52, 69-74, 100-91