San Mig’s Marc Pingris (foreground) battles for the loose ball against Ginebra giants Japeth Aguilar and Greg Slaughter. (INQUIRER PHOTO)
Not even close.
What was expected to be a dogfight turned out to be a yawner as the San Mig Coffee Mixers ran roughshod over the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 110-87, in their knockout Game 7 of their semifinal series of the 39th PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Watched by an all-time record of 24,883 paying patrons, the Coffee Mixers cut the Kings to pieces with a torrid shooting, wrapping up the series, 4-3.
The Coffee Mixers will next play the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in a best-of-seven title showdown which starts tomorrow.
James Yap came up with his finest game of the season, hitting seven of his 10 attempts from the three-point land to finish with a game-high 30 points.
Peter June Simon gave Ginebra more headache as he was just two points shy of tying Yap’s output.
It was a collective effort for the Mixers as even Rafi Reavis, who is not known as a scorer, made heavy damage at the start.
The lanky Reavis scored San Mig’s first eight points and went on to finish the opening period with 12 points, powering the Coffee Mixers to an 28-20 advantage.
Yap then went to work in the second canto where he scored 14 markers anchored on four three-pointers as San Mig sat on a 57-44 lead at the turn.
Ginebra had some mini runs in the third but San Mig did just enough to put its opponent at bay, taking a 78-67 advantage into the fourth period.
Yap actually didn’t score much in the endgame but Simon was there to deliver the goods.
Making a series of his patented one-handed shots, Simon tore Ginebra’s defense apart by scoring at will in the paint.
Simon unloaded 15 of his total output in the fourth where the Coffee Mixers outscored the Kings, 32-20.
“I don’t know what was going on there. There was just too much James and PJ,” said San Mig head coach Tim Cone.
Mark Caguioa led the Kings with 23 points.
BOX SCORES
SAN MIG (110)– Yap 30, Simon 28, Sangalang 15, Reavis 15, Pingris 8, Barroca 6, Mallari 6, Devance 2, Melton 0.
GINEBRA (87) – Caguioa 23, Aguilar 17, Tenorio 16, Slaughter 12, Mamaril 6, Helterbrand 5, Ellis 4, Baracael 3, Reyes 1, Monfort 0, Urbiztondo 0.QUARTERSORES: 28-20, 57-44, 79-67, 110-87.