MANILA, Philippines -- James Yap came to San Mig Coffee's rescue as the Mixers clawed back from the hands of defeat to steal Game 1, 104-101, from Rain or Shine Elasto Painters Tuesday night in the PBA Governors' Cup Finals at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Yap caught fire in the fourth delivering two big baskets down the stretch that completely wiped out the Elasto Painters' once mighty 17-point lead.
Yap poured in 10 of his 14 points in the final quarter but none bigger than the last two field goals he hit.
First, he tied the game at 94-all but Rain or Shine import Arizona Reid refused to give up scoring two clutch baskets that sandwiched a Marc Pingris short stab.
With Rain or Shine clinging to a two-point edge, 98-96, Yap fired a huge three-pointer that put the Mixers on top, 99-98, with 57.8 seconds left in the game.
After a Paul Lee missed triple, Pingris set up Yap for the dagger jumper to make it 101-98 with 16.6 seconds to go.
"Big Game James hit those two big shots - a tough 3 and a tough leaning jumper off a hand-off. That's two of the toughest baskets to make in basketball," San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone said.
Marqus Blakely, who battled foul trouble iced the contest with two free throws before Reid hit three freebies of his own to give themselves a chance at the endgame. Lee, however, was not able to launch a decent shot after initiating a contact with Pingris before the buzzer.
The Elasto Painters controlled the game from start until the fourth quarter. Behind Lee and Reid's hot hands, Rain or Shine exploded for 57 first half points that had Cone fuming mad on his team at halftime.
The Mixers drew seven players in double figures led by PJ Simon' 18 points while Yap and Pingris added 14 each.
Reid's 35-point and 12-rebound performance went for naught.