Game today:
Araneta Coliseum
Game 2 of Best-of-7 Finals
4:45 p.m.- Petron vs. San Mig
DOWN A game in the 38th PBA Governors’ Cup best-of-seven finals, San Mig Coffee tries to get back on its feet when it plays the top-ranked Petron Blaze Boosters in Game 2 today at the Araneta Coliseum.
In order for the Mixers to bounce back, head coach Tim Cone said one key adjustment the team should make is defend better against Petron’s shooters.
“They just broke us down with their three-point shots in the fourth quarter,” Cone said after the 100-84 loss to the Boosters last Friday night.
The Boosters won behind their scorching shooting in the fourth quarter, where they canned seven three pointers that helped them outscore the Coffee Mixers, 41-23.
Leading the shooting spree was Chris Lutz. Held scoreless in the first three quarters, Lutz erupted for 11 points in the fourth, where the Boosters pulled away after starting the period down by two, 59-61.
But Cone said it will take more than just defense to defeat Petron.
“I felt we played a little satisfied and happy to be in the finals. We didn’t have enough focus,” Cone said. “We got to bring our best against this team.”
Marqus Blakely scored 23 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for San Mig, which got just eight points from top gun James Yap.
Petron, meanwhile, had Elijah Millsap pile up 35 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his third triple-double in the conference.
As brilliant as Millsap played, the Boosters could have not won Game One if not fort the timely explosion of Lutz, Marcio Lassiter and Alex Cabagnot.
“I think it was a total team effort,” Petron coach Gee Abanilla said. /Editorial assistant calvin cordova