2014- PBA Governors’ Cup Semifinals: Mixers 4 wins away from historic Grand Slam!

Paul Harris and the Tropang Texters are now a loss away from elimination.

Game Notes:
- PJ Simon and James Yap chose to play in this game straight out of sick bay, but they accounted pretty well for themselves, combining for 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. Both guys started for San Mig Super Coffee.

- Just like the previous conferences, Joe Devance and Mark Barroca stepped up when the Mixers direly needed them. Devance unloaded 3 triples on his way to 19 points while Barroca delivered crucial baskets in the clutch to help SMC be just four wins away from an historic Grand Slam.

- Paul Harris of TNT put up strong numbers again, but even his 33 points, 6 boards, 4 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal were not enough to carry the Tropang Texters to a Game 2 win. Now TNT is just one defeat away from getting swept out of the season.

Game recap by Rey Joble/InterAKTV:

SAN MIG SUPER COFFEE over TALK N TEXT, 93-85

The San Mig Super Coffee Mixers are one step away from returning to the PLDT Home Telpad Governors’ Cup finals after stomping Talk ‘N Text, 93-85, on Saturday at SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

“It seemed like we were in control pretty much the whole game until the end of the third quarter, but we were fighting the whole time ’cause we knew they’re gonna come back,” said San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone.

“Guys kept their poise, they were able to pull it out.”

San Mig Coffee, the winner of the last three PBA championships, started out like a house on fire, rolling out to a 13-1 start en route to a 32-13 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

But the Tropang Texters chipped away at the deficit over the next two quarters, coming within striking distance, 64-59, heading into the fourth period.

Like in Game One, bench players once again made a key run for the Mixers, who scored the first eight points of the final quarter to open up a 72-59 advantage even with import Marqus Blakely not in the lineup.

Talk ‘N Text came to within seven points, 87-80, on a three-pointer from Ranidel De Ocampo with less than two minutes left.

James Yap missed a bailout jumper in the next play for San Mig Coffee, but Mark Barroca swooped in for the offensive rebound. The Coffee Prince reset the play before hitting a jumper a few moments later to give the Mixers an 89-81 lead with just 51.9 seconds left.

The Mixers welcomed back leading local scorer Peter June Simon, who scored eight points after missing the last two games. Two-time Most Valuable Player James Yap also bucked a foot injury to finish with nine points for the Mixers.

“I thank James and PJ for coming out and playing today,” said Cone.

With a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five semifinals affair, the Mixers can close the series in Game Three on Monday.

SMC 93 – Blakely 19, Devance 19, Barroca 13, Yap 9, Pingris 8, Mallari 8, Simon 8, Sangalang 7, Maliksi 2, Taha 0, Melton 0.
TNT 85 – Harris 33, Castro 12, De Ocampo 9, Canaleta 8, Williams 7, Alapag 6, Carey 4, Reys Ryan 2, Reyes Rob 2, Baclao 0, Fonacier 0.
QS: 32-13, 47-34, 64-59, 93-85