The world
didn’t end last night. Instead, things started to really get interesting in the
2012 PBA Philippine Cup as both the Aces and the Mixers tied up their
respective semifinals series at 1-game apiece.
James Yap
once again lived up to his moniker, “Big Game James,” by having, easily, his
best game of the conference. The former UE Red Warrior dropped 34 points and
grabbed 10 rebounds, both conference-highs for him, on the Painters, who were
looking to go up, 2-0, after beating SMC in Game One. Yap shot 52% from the
field, including rifling in 7 treys, in this important game. Along the way, he
allayed fears that the injury he got in the first game would further hamper his
performance. Mark Barroca and Joe Devance also stepped up big, scoring 17
markers each, even as PJ Simon continued to be a steady contributor with 13
points.
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| James Yap sizzled with 34 points as the Mixers drew 1-1 with the Painters. |
In the main
game, a couple of young guns took over in leading Alaska past the deep,
veteran-laden TNT roster. Super sophomore JV Casio and rookie sensation Calvin
Abueva paired up for 42 big points as the Aces squared their series with the
top-seeded Texters. Casio shot just 5-of-11 from the floor, but all those five
makes were threes. He also was a flawless 7-of-7 from the stripe. Abuevae, for
his part, grabbed 14 rebounds, easily outplaying any frontliner coach Norman
Black tried to throw at him. Veteran Aces Cyrus Baguio and Sonny Thoss
continued to be reliable, too, with 18 and 13 markers respectively.
Game Recaps:
SAN MIG COFFEE MIXERS over RAIN
OR SHINE ELASTO-PAINTERS, 106-82
Down in the
Philippine Cup semifinals against a dangerous opponent, San Mig Coffee was
playing with a sense of desperation.
And just
like in past big games, it was Big Game James who carried the day for the
Mixers.
James Yap
scored 34 points, including 16 in the pivotal third quarter, and grabbed 10
rebounds to lead San Mig Coffee to a 106-82 victory over the Rain or Shine
Elasto Painters in Game Two to level their best-of-seven series Friday night at
the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Yap, who
injured his knee in Game One, did most of his damage from beyond the arc,
shooting 7-of-12 from the three-point line.
“We had to
play this game at a desperation level,” said San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone. “We
couldn’t go down 2-0.”
The Mixers
won the third quarter, 37-22, to turn the game around after a tight first half.
Trailing 38-40 at halftime, San Mig Coffee exploded for 68 points in the next
24 minutes with Yap and Joe Devance alternately scorching the Elasto Painters
and avenged their 91-83 Game One loss.
Yap had plenty
of support from the rest of the Mixers, as Mark Barroca and Joe Devance added
17 points apiece, while Peter June Simon added 13. Barroca also had seven
rebounds and eight assists.
“We
shortened our rotation and that put pressure on James (Yap), Mark (Barroca) and
PJ (Simon), to play extra minutes. They did a wonderful job tonight but I’m not
sure we can do that every game,” said Cone.
“We went to
smaller lineup and got the match up we wanted. We were really determined to win
the battle of match-ups and in the second half, it looks like we did.”
On the other
end, the Mixers hounded the Rain or Shine’s top guns into woeful shooting. Jeff
Chan shot just 3-of-10 from the field, while Paul Lee was 2-of-12.
The
frustration was evident for the Elasto Painters, with coach Yeng Guiao getting
ejected in the third quarter after his second technical foul.
“We just got
frustrated with the calls. We felt that they were allowing too much contact
against us while we couldn’t defend them with the same amount of contact they
were giving (to the other team),” said Guiao.
SMC 106 – Yap 34, Barroca 17, Devance
17, Simon 13, Pingris 9, Gonzales 6, Reavis 4, Ramos 3, De Ocampo 3, Pacana 0.
ROS 82 – Rodriguez 12, Quinahan 12,
Chan 10, Cruz 9, Belga 9, Lee 7, Matias 7, Ibanes 7, Arana 5, Norwood 2, Tang
2, Tiu 0.
QS: 18-27, 38-40, 75-62, 106-82
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| PJ Simon continued to play well for San Mig Coffee. |
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| Yeng Guiao and Beau Belga had no answers in Game 2. |
ALASKA ACES over TALK N TEXT TROPANG TEXTERS, 100-88
JVee Casio
bounced back from a poor series opener while Calvin Abueva was back in beast
mode as they helped Alaska secure a series-tying 100-88 win in Game Two over
Talk ‘N Text Friday in the 2013 PBA Philippine Cup semifinals at the SM Mall of
Asia Arena.
Casio
drilled five three-pointers to finish with 22 points, 16 more than his Game One
output, while Abueva tallied 20 points and 14 rebounds as the Aces tied the
best-of-seven series at one game apiece.
Cyrus Baguio
was also huge for Alaska with 18 points, including 10 in the final quarter,
while slotman Sonny Thoss chipped in 13.
“We were
able to impose our will. You can’t outscore Talk ‘N Text. We’re able to play
our tempo and grind it out,” said Aces coach Luigi Trillo.
After
dropping a close 66-65 decision in Game One, Alaska’s offense was in sync while
denying the Tropang Texters’ top gunners, except for Jared Dillinger, from get
their usual numbers.
Dillinger
led all scorers with 26 points, two shy of tying his career-high, but the rest
of his teammates were not much of a factor with Jimmy Alapag scoring just four
points on 1-of-11 shooting from the floor.
Despite
Alapag’s struggles, Talk ‘N Text was still in the thick of things early in the
fourth with Dillinger’s heroics.
But the Aces
unleashed a 13-4 assault capped by Abueva’s two free throws off Ranidel de Ocampo’s
final foul to erect an 89-78 lead with 5:34 remaining,
Talk ‘N Text
threatened at 91-85, but Baguio scored five straight points to spark another
8-3 exchange to give the Aces game for good with a little over a minute left.
Kelly
Williams and Jayson Castro chipped in 13 and 12 points, respectively, for the
Tropang Texters. Game One hero Ryan Reyes was held scoreless in 27 minutes as
he attempted only thrice.
Game Three
is set on Wednesday also at the MOA Arena
“We have
tired legs. Time to refresh,” said Trillo. “Back to the drawing board and see
what adjustments to do.”
ALA 100 – Casio 22, Abueva 20, Baguio
18, Thoss 13, Espinas 9, Jazul 7, Hontiveros 5, Baracael 2, Laure 2, Belasco 2,
Reyes 0, Dela Cruz 0.
TNT 88 – Dillinger 26, Williams 13,
Castro 12, Fonacier 10, De Ocampo 10, Peek 6, Carey 4, Alapag 4, Aban 3, Reyes
0, Alvarez 0.
QS: 21-27, 46-48, 74-68, 100-88
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| Harvey Carey and the Texters were surprised by Tony Dela Cruz and the Aces. |
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| JV Casio erupted for 22 points as the Aces ambushed TNT. |
Source: Unless otherwise specified, game
recaps were compressed and compiled from InterAKTV. (Writing credit to Rey
Joble.)
Images: All images are from InterAKTV.
(Photo credit to Paul Ryan Tan)
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