2012 PBA Philippine Cup Roundup: October 31, 2012

Big Game James lived up to his nickname again as
San Mig Coffee defeated Global Port.

Say what you want about James Yap – he’s too showbiz, he doesn’t play defense, he shoots way too much, he’s overrated – but this you have to admit – when his team needs a win, there’s nobody else they’d trust to deliver more than him.

In yet another close encounter of the PBA kind (hey, it’s Halloween, so allow me those campy references), the Mixers pulled out a big win with Yap unloading a huge fourth quarter. He scored all but 5 of his 16 points to help SMC come back from an 8-point hole to start the final frame.

Yap was helped by the herculean performance of Marc Pingris, who scored 17 points and grabbed 16 boards. PJ Simon, Mark Barroca, and Joe Devance all scored in double figures as the Mixers moved up to a tie for second place with 4 wins against 2 defeats.

Two-time MVP Willie Miller and rookie Vic Manuel led Global Port with a combined 36 points and 20 rebounds.

In the second game, the Meralco Bolts also climbed to 4-2 after beating the Barako Bull Energy Colas, 99-86. Sol Mercado led the Bolts with 22 markers, 6 boards, and 6 dimes, while Ronjay Buenafe and Mac Cardona dropped 16 points each.

Game Recaps:

SAN MIG COFFEE MIXERS over GLOBAL PORT BATANG PIER, 82-78

When the game is on the line, expect big time players to take center stage.

In a battle of two-time Most Valuable Player winners, James Yap and Willie Miller found themselves in a scoring duel at the end of the game between San Mig Coffee and GlobalPort.

In the end, it was Yap who got the job done.

The San Mig Coffee superstar scored 11 of his 16 points in the fourth period, all of which came in a key juncture, as the Mixers survived a gritty challenge from the Batang Pier for a come-from-behind 82-78 triumph Wednesday night at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

Yap had back-to-back baskets at the low block against the tight defense of Mark Yee, including the go-ahead basket with 40 seconds left that pegged the score at 79-78.

San Mig Coffee forced a stop against Miller in the ensuing possession. Forced to give up a foul, GlobalPort sent Mark Barroca to the charity stripe, where the sophomore guard split his free throws, giving GlobalPort one last chance to win the game or send it into overtime.

GlobalPort rookie forward Vic Manuel had a chance to tie the count but flubbed his short stab, before Barroca was sent to the line anew.

This time, Barroca made both his charities to ensure the Mixers’ fourth win.

Cone wasn’t completely satisfied with the win, but said he would take it.

“You look at all our wins, they were tough. Right now, I wish we can be a lot smoother, move the ball better. In the meantime, we will take the ugly wins,but hopefully we can win pretty down the line,” said Cone, who praised his counterpart.

“Coach Glenn Capacio did a great job, particularly with his quick line up that took Yancy (De Ocampo) off the floor, we got to take him out of the floor because we cannot match up with them. Finally, we were forced to match up with them. But Ping did a great job defensively while James made some big shots down the stretch.”

SMC 82 — Pingris 17, Yap 16, Simon 15, Barroca 11, Devance 11, De Ocampo 4, Ramos 2, Villanueva 2, Gonzales 2, Reavis 2

GLO 78 — Miller 19, Manuel 17, Deutchman 7, Antonio 7, Mandani 6, Guevarra 6, Vanlandingham 5, Adducul 4, Vergara 3, Al-Hussaini 2, Yee 2, Cruz 0

QS: 13-19; 30-38; 50-58; 82-78

Willie Miller tests the defense of old collegiate
rival Wesley Gonzales.

Marc Pingris has both his hands full against
Rommel Adducul and AJ Mandani.

MERALCO BOLTS over BARAKO BULL ENERGY COLAS, 99-86

Up against a team expected to play with a lot of emotion after losing a heartbreaking loss to San Mig Coffee, Ryan Gregorio knew how to motivate his squad.

“We just have to make sure we will match the emotions of Barako Bull and the best way is to play good defense,” said Gregorio.

The Bolts kept the taller Energy Cola out of their comfort zone all the way to winning 99-86 in the PBA Philippine Cup Wednesday night at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

Sol Mercado finished with 22 points, six rebounds and six assists while five other players finished with at least eight markers for the Bolts, who unloaded 34 second-quarter points to turn a once close encounter into a decisive victory.

Ronjay Buenafe and Mac Cardona contributed 16 points apiece, Reynel Hugnatan had 12 markers and Cliff Hodge and Sunday Salvacion had eight points each for the Bolts, who improved to 4-2 win-loss mark.

“The best thing about our team now is that nobody cares who gets the credit for the win. Whatever we lacked with ceiling, we compensate with quickness. We’re now 4-2 so we have the best six-game start of our young franchise,” added Gregorio.

MER 99 – Mercado 22, Buenafe 16, Cardona 16, Hugnatan 12, Hodge 8, Salvacion 8, Borboran 6, Reyes 5, Artadi 4, Sharma 2, Bulawan 0

BAR 86 – Urbiztondo 14, Kramer 14, Najorda 13, Villanueva 13, Yap 9, Tubid 7, Pennisi 7, Marcelo 3, Co 2, Alvarez 2, Anthony 2, Ballesteros 0

QS: 19-21, 53-40, 78-59, 99-86