Mixers nip Texters in OT, seize opener

Game today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

8 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs Alaska Milk

MANILA, Philippines - Mark Barroca and Marc Pingris came out strong and took over in overtime after struggling in regulation play as San Mig Coffee carved out a come-from-behind 92-88 victory over Talk n Text in Game One of their PLDT Home Telpad PBA Governors Cup best-of-five semifinal showdown at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

Minus the injury-stricken PJ Simon and with San Mig Coffee needing a lift, Marqus Blakely stepped up late in the fourth quarter then Barroca and Pingris seized the moment in the extra period as the Mixers salvaged the series’ opener to boost their grand slam quest.

With San Mig Coffee down by two, 77-79, Pingris and Barroca struck for a 10-3 tear as the Mixers took control and subsequently gained the head start in the race-to-three-games series.

“We just kind of battled and stayed in the game to give ourselves a chance in the end,” said San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone.

The Texters set the pace majority of the second half before slowing down and absorbing a disappointing defeat.

Meanwhile, Rain or Shine and Alaska Milk, two teams challenging the dominance of the power blocs in the league, begin their own semis duel tonight, both riding the crest of a searing streak from the elimination round.

The Elasto Painters, sizzling on a six-game roll, and the Aces, hot on a four-game romp, clash at 8 p.m., also at the Big Dome.

Talk n Text was very much in control, 75-66, with five minutes left to play and was still ahead at 77-74 with 26.5 seconds to go.

But Allein Maliksi connected with a big trey from the left flank on a kick-out by Blakely then the Mixers put up a stonewall defense to send the game into overtime at 77.

The Texters scored only two points in the last six minutes of regulation and failed to recover, going scoreless in a crucial two-minute stretch in extension.

After Pingris buried a charity and scored on a power move off Ranidel de Ocampo, the Mixers built an 87-82 cushion with less than a minute left.

Thoroughly outplayed by Jayson Castro in regulation, Barroca had the last laugh in their matchup with four crucial points in overtime.

Barroca tied the count at 82 on two charities and pushed San Mig ahead to stay on a runner off Castro.

Blakely, Pingris and Barroca carried the fight for the Mixers with Simon still down with a back injury and James Yap hardly getting into the groove.

Castro drained a trey then attacked and scored to ignite an 11-4 closing run that gave the Texters 40-39 edge at the half.

The Texters cashed in on points off turnovers while the Mixers capitalized on their domination off the boards that marked the fiercely-fought first half of action.