Can Ginebra’s big men step up against San Mig’s small combo?

Game today:
Araneta Coliseum
8 p.m.- San Mig vs. Barangay Ginebra
Game 4, San Mig leads series, 2-1

Seven-foot-one Greg Slaughter of Ginebra is blocked from behind by 5-foot-10 Mark Barocca of San Mig Coffee in Game 3 of the PBA semis. (INQUIRER PHOTO)

The San Mig Coffee Mixers are up against an opponent armed with the tallest front court in the league.

But three games into their semifinal duel versus the Barangay Ginebra Kings, the Coffee Mixers are in the driver’s seat and it has been the small guys who are making the difference.

The Coffee Mixers look to move a game away from advancing to the finals when they play the top-ranked Kings tonight in Game 4 of their best-of-seven semifinal series of the 39th PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

From delivering the crucial points, collaring rebounds and even blocking shots, Mark Barroca and his backcourt partner Justin Melton have been playing big, allowing the Coffee Mixers to win two of the first three games.

Barroca was the hero in San Mig’s 85-83 Game 1 victory, sinking the marginal basket in the closing minutes. Melton was also solid in that win, scoring seven of his eight points in the fourth, with main men James Yap and Peter June Simon on the bench.

Ginebra would bounce back in Game 2, pulling off a 29-point bludgeoning of San Mig, 93-64, to tie the series. San Mig returned the favor in Game 3 behind the heroics again of Barroca, who fired a career-high 25 points to lead his team to a huge 97-89 victory.

The 5-foot-10 Barroca also had eight rebounds, five assists, one steal, one block—against 7-footer Greg Slaughter— and only had one turnover in 32 minutes of play.

Put to waste was Slaughter’s career-game in Game 3 as the Kings stumbled despite his 29-point explosion.

But San Mig head coach Tim Cone cautioned his team to stay focused.

“It’s gonna be a tough series. We’re still not comfortable being at 2-1. We need to play A-plus to beat this team,” Cone said.