2014 PBA Governors’ Cup Quarterfinals: Texters and Mixers book semis date after separate wins!

Both KG Cañaleta and Justin Melton stepped up big time for their
respective teams in the knockout quarterfinals.

Game notes:
- Way to bust out, KG Canaleta! The former UE Red Warrior exploded for 25 points on the strength of 6 three-pointers to lead the Tropang Texters past the Energy Cola and into the semifinals.

- Paul Harris and Ranide De Ocampo both recorded double-doubles to backstop Canaleta’s hot shooting. Harris had 24 points and 13 rebounds, while RDO dropped 14 and 10 while also leading the team with 7 assists.

- This was a sorry loss for Barako Bull, which led at the half and tried its darnedest to stick close to TNT. Props, though, to Allen Durham, who had another impressive outing with 25 markers and 17 boards, and Keith Jensen, who had his best PBA game so far with 17 points on 7/12 FG shooting.

- With top local scorer PJ Simon unable to play, the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers looked to rookie Justin Melton to deliver, and deliver he did. The former Malaysia Dragon shot 6/9 from the floor to score 16 points in 23 minutes off the bench. Other second unit guys responded, too, most notably Allein Maliksi and Ian Sangalang, who combined for 17 markers off the pine.

- SMB held a lead late in this game, but the Beermen still ended up with the short end of the stick. This is, sadly, a microcosm of SMB’s entire season — leading and impressing early and then crumbling in the clutch. Reggie Williams and Arwind Santos both had 21 points to lead the Beermen, who will now enter the offseason with a lot of questions.

Game recaps by Rey Joble/InterAKTV.

TALK N TEXT over BARAKO BULL, 99-84

The Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters broke away from Barako Bull for an 99-84 victory in the PLDT Home Telpad Governors’ Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday at SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

“Great team effort by my players today,” said Talk ‘N Text coach Norman Black.

The win gave the top seed Tropang Texters the first ticket to the semifinals of the tournament, where they await the winner of the matchup between the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers and San Miguel Beer.

“No matter who we play, it’s gonna be a tough series,” said Talk ‘N Text coach Norman Black. “I don’t really care who we play against. It’s just about my team focusing on our goals.”

Barako Bull, the lowest seed in the playoffs, put up a hard fight, even taking a nine-point lead, 56-47, midway through the third period.

But a 10-0 run capped by a three-pointer from KG Canaleta put the Tropang Texters back in control. Talk ‘N Text had pushed the lead to eight, 73-65, by the end of the third period.

The Tropang Texters put the game away in the fourth quarter, opening up a 97-79 bubble with four minutes remaining.

KG Canaleta caught fire for Talk ‘N Text, scoring 25 points on six three-point shots. Import Paul Harris put up his usual numbers with 24 points and 13 rebounds for the Tropang Texters.

“We’re very balanced as far as our scoring is concerned, we had a lot of contributions from everybody, we don’t rely totally on Harris,” said Black.

Canaleta’s outburst came after he averaged just 5.1 points in the elimination round. “Canaleta had an exceptional shooting night,” said Black.

TNT 99 – Canaleta 25, Harris 24, Castro 16, De Ocampo 14, Williams 7, Fonacier 4, Alapag 3, Reyes Ryan 2, Baclao 2, Carey 2, Aban 0, Reyes Jai 0, Espiritu 0.
BAR 84 – Durham 25, Jensen 17, Miranda 12, Pennisi 11, Fortuna 6, Wilson 5, Miller 4, Marcelo 4, Deutchman 0, Intal 0.
QS: 16-17, 41-43, 73-65, 99-84

Keith Jensen scored a career-high 17 points, but Barako Bull
still ended bidding goodbye to its season.

KG Cañaleta proved to be the big difference as TNT eliminated the Energy Cola.

Paul Harris continues to play at a very high level as the Texters march into the semis.

SAN MIG SUPER COFFEE over SAN MIGUEL BEER, 97-90

The San Mig Super Coffee Mixers got major contributions from their bench to knock out San Miguel Beer, 97-90, in the quarterfinals of the PLDT Home Telpad Governors’ Cup on Tuesday at SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

The Mixers, the winners of the last three PBA championships, set up a return bout with the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters in the final four. The two teams figured in the finals of the Commissioner’s Cup that saw San Mig Coffee take a 3-1 series win.

With the Mixers having less than 24 hours of rest after their last game against Rain or Shine, the Beermen pounced early, taking a 27-14 lead after the first quarter.

San Mig Coffee chipped away at the lead in the second quarter and remained within striking distance. The Mixers took a brief lead in the third period, before the Beermen wrested back control.

San Miguel Beer was still up, 72-66, in the final quarter when the Mixers bench crew sparked a rally. Despite the absence of Marqus Blakely on the floor, San Mig Coffee unleashed an 11-2 run to take the lead, 77-74.

Split free throws from Arwind Santos tied the game for the last time, 81-all. With Blakely back on the court, the Mixers pounded the Beermen with a 12-2 blast to take a commanding 93-83 lead.

Blakely was his usual stellar self, leading the Mixers with 25 points, 18 rebounds, and five blocks. But San Mig Coffee, playing without leading local scorer Peter June Simon, got a big boost off the bench from Justin Melton (16 points), Allein Maliksi (nine points) and Ian Sangalang (eight points).

Simon suffered back spasms and was unable to get to the venue.

“We didn’t get the word on PJ until two hours before the game started that he couldn’t even stand up at home. Shocking ’cause we just had a shootaround this morning. That was a big blow for us, PJ means so much for this team,” said San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone.

“Justin stepped up big time, Allein… guys stepped up. I couldn’t take Justin off the floor.”

That more than made up for the subpar performance from San Mig Coffee’s starting backcourt of James Yap and Mark Barroca, who combined for 13 points on a miserable 3-of-15 (20 percent) shooting.

Reggie Williams and Arwind Santos scored 21 points apiece to lead San Miguel Beer, which failed to make it past the quarterfinals for the second straight tournament. June Mar Fajardo, the leading candidate for Best Player of the Conference after the elimination round, finished with 16 points and 15 rebounds.

SMC 97 – Blakely 25, Melton 16, Devance 14, Maliksi 9, Pingris 8, Sangalang 8, Yap 7, Barroca 6, Mallari 2, Reavis 2, Taha 0.
SMB 90 – Williams 21, Santos 21, Fajardo 16, Tubid 8, Lassiter 8, Ross 5, Mercado 4, Maierhofer 3, Kramer 2, Lutz 2, Lanete 0.
QS: 14-27, 44-48, 66-70, 97-90