San Mig gets first win vs Meralco

Game today

Araneta Coliseum

7:15 p.m.- Rain or Shine vs. Petron

THE SAN MIG Coffee Mixers struck hard in the endgame to outlast the Meralco Bolts, 83-73, and drew first blood in their best-of-five semifinal series of the 38th PBA Governors’ Cup at the Araneta Coliseum last night.

San Mig was coming off a tough quarterfinal series against the Alaska Aces but showed no signs of fatigue, making heavy damage in the final two quarters to spoil Meralco’s first-ever semifinal stint.

The Bolts looked dominant early when they posted a 50-40 lead in the 6:43 mark of the third period but the Mixers quickly got back into the game behind an 11-2 run that saw them cutting the deficit to just one, 51-52.

San Mig completed its comeback by stealing the lead, 57-55, going into the final quarter.

The Coffee Mixers capped their crippling endgame attack in the fourth behind Joe Devance, who scored 10 of his game-high 17 points in that period.

Meralco actually threatened at 69-70 with 4:45 left but San Mig staged a 9-0 run to build a 79-69 lead with 2:09 left.

Cliff Hodge scored a game-high 19 points for the Bolts, who only got nine markers from import Mario West.

BOX SCORES

SAN MIG (83) – Devance 17, Blakely 15, Yap 15, Mallari 12, Pingris 8, Barroca 7, Simon 7, Reavis 2.

MERALCO (73)- Hodge 19, Cortez 12, Wilson 10, West 9, Reyes 6, Cardona 6, Hugnatan 6, Dillinger 2, Salvacion 2, Ross 1.

Quarters: 18-22, 35-38, 57-55, 83-73.  /EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CALVIN D. CORDOVA