2014 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals: Mixers rally in the fourth to upend TNT and win third straight title!

With their team down by nine early in the fourth quarter of Game 4, James Yap and Mark Barroca took it upon themselves to lead their club in storming back and copping the 2014 PBA Commissioner’s Cup crown at the expense of the Talk N Text Tropang Texters, 100-91. Yap capped a huge 17-4 run in the final frame that erased the aforementioned deficit and put SMC on top for good, 93-89, inside the final two minutes. Barroca, for his part, outplayed TNT’s Jayson Castro on both ends to preserve the win for SMC. Yap had 10 points and 5 rebounds for the game, while Barroca dropped a game-high 22 points.

Three-Peat!
(image from the San Mig Coffee Mixers Facebook page)

This was a sorry result for the Texters, who won their first thirteen games of the conference before losing three of their last four in the Finals. In the last two outings, TNT actually held the lead in the fourth before succumbing to errors and clutch shooting from the Mixers. Ace player Jayson Castro also struggled in this one, making just 5 points on a peculiar 1/5 FG shooting performance. He had just 3 assists along with 4 turnovers.

Three-Peat: This serves as the third straight title romp for the Mixers, who also pocketed the 2013 Governors’ Cup and the 2013-2014 Philippine Cup. This effectively gives SMC an unconventional grand slam mainly because the three titles bridge two seasons. Should they continue their title-winning ways in the next conference, then they will formally notch the elusive PBA Grand Slam. This is now Tim Cone’s seventeenth overall PBA title and his fourth after leaving Alaska for the Purefoods franchise.

Game recap by Rey Joble/InterAKTV:

SAN MIG SUPER COFFEE over TALK N TEXT, 100-91

The San Mig Super Coffee Mixers rallied past the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters for a 100-91 victory in Game Four to win the PLDT Home TVolution Commissioner’s Cup on Thursday at PhilSports Arena.

The Mixers won the third jewel in the PBA’s triple crown and moved one more tournament away from winning the league’s coveted Grand Slam.

But San Mig Coffee had to go through the eye of the needle against a proud Tropang Texters side determined to go down fighting.

Talk ‘N Text started out like a house on fire, opening the game with a 17-1 run.

“At halftime, I screamed at the guys, I yelled at them, told them, ‘You want to rest already for Game Five?’” said San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone.

“I’m amazed, I thought they can’t do it, but this team has proven me wrong over and over again. Our guys didn’t want to quit, they just kept on battling.”

The Tropang Texters remained in control in the third quarter with a 68-53 advantage. But the Mixers made their move, unleashing a furious 16-0 run powered by rookie Ian Sangalang to take a 69-68 edge.

But San Mig Coffee’s lead was short-lived after Jayson Castro and Jimmy Alapag nailed back-to-back three-pointers to end the third period with a 74-69 lead.

Talk ‘N Text surged ahead for an 85-76 early in the final quarter, before the Mixers came charging back. A 17-4 run capped by a three-pointer from James Yap gave San Mig Coffee the lead for good, 93-89, with two minutes left to play.

Mark Barroca put the finishing touches on the game with big shots down the stretch to put Talk ‘N Text away.

The Purefoods franchise won its 12th title in franchise history and the fourth under coach Tim Cone, who padded his total as the PBA’s winningest coach with 17 championships.

It was a disappointing finish for Talk ‘N Text, who blazed through the tournament with 13 straight wins prior to the finals.

But San Mig Coffee turned out to be the tougher team despite going through grueling battles in the playoffs against Alaska and Air 21.

SMC 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.
TNT 91 – Alapag 17, Howell 16, De Ocampo 16, Canaleta 16, Williams 12, Castro 5, Reyes 5, Seigle 2, Carey 2, Fonacier 0.
QS: 15-25, 38-52, 69-74, 100-91