‘Coffee Prince’ sizzles as San Mig Coffee survives Petron in OT to avoid QF upset Rey Joble, InterAKTV

AKTV file/Pranz Kaeno Billones

James Yap and Marc Pingris had excellent games for San Mig Coffee, but it was Mark Barroca who hit the biggest baskets in the Mixers’ pulsating 92-87 overtime victory in the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals Thursday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
With the win, the Mixers booked a seat in the tournament’s final four, avoiding the complications of a do-or-die match against the dangerous Boosters.
“Talking about being put through a wringer gives you the idea of facing Petron,” said San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone. “Our idea was to run and gun with these guys. We don’t want a second game with this team. It was a crucial performance for us to knock them out. If we didn’t win tonight, I don’t know how we’re going to win our second game against them.”
San Mig Coffee had reason to be wary. Then known as B-MEG, the team also had twice-to-beat advantage last season against the Powerade Tigers, but were victims of an upset against a team that caught fire at the right time.
This year, the Mixers made sure they advanced.
Barroca scored the final five points of regulation for San Mig Coffee, including a three-pointer that put the Mixers up 79-76 with just 26.3 seconds left. But Arwind Santos hit a tying three-pointer less than 16 seconds later to force the extra period.
San Mig Coffee was up by a slim 87-85 margin late in overtime when Barroca hit a floater and two free throws to put the game away for the Mixers. The second-year guard, who finished with 15 points, also took a key charge during that stretch.
Yap had 23 points and seven rebounds while Pingris added 20 and 11 to lead San Mig Coffee, which trailed by as much as 10 points in the third quarter.
The loss spoiled the performance of top overall pick June Mar Fajardo, who had the best game of his career with 22 points, 15 rebounds, and three blocks.
The scores:
SAN MIG COFFEE 92 – Yap 23, Pingris 20, Barroca 15, Devance 12, Simon 12, De Ocampo 4, Ramos 3, Reavis 3, Intal 0, Gonzales 0.
PETRON 87 – Fajardo 22, Cabagnot 21, Lassiter 16, Santos 13, Washington 8, Lutz 4, Faundo 2, Yeo 1, Lanete 0, Miranda 0, Pena 0.
Quarters: 17-17, 39-39, 61-63, 79-79, 92-87

source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/coffee-prince-sizzles-as-san-mig-coffee-survives-petron-in-ot-to-avoid-qf-upset