San Mig Coffee, Petron Blaze dispute Governors’ Cup crown

Game today:

Araneta Coliseum

8 p.m.- San Mig Coffee vs. Petron

It is said that playing in a Game Seven of a championship series is a dream of coaches and players. But it is also a dream that could turn into a nightmare.

Will it be a dream come true or a nightmarish finish for sister teams Petron Blaze Boosters and San Mig Coffee Mixers as they collide in a winner-take-all Game 7 of the 38th PBA Governors’ Cup tonight at the Araneta Coliseum.

The best-of-seven series is down to one final game after Petron salvaged a 99-88 victory in Wednesday night’s Game Six.

“We’re just very happy with the opportunity presented to us.” Petron coach Gee Abanilla told pba.ph. “ It’s a great honor to play an elite team like San Mig, especially coached by a great coach Tim (Cone). We’ll come out prepared on Friday. It’s Game 7 of the Finals. It’s a dream of coaches and players.”

Petron won Game One, 100-84, but San Mig bounced back in the next game with a 100-93 decision. The Boosters retook the series lead by easily winning Game Three, 90-68, then the Mixers evened things up again by scoring an 88-86 victory in Game Four despite squandering a 28-point lead.

San Mig Coffee finally surged ahead in the series when they broke the win-loss-win-loss pattern, taking Game Five, 114-103, for a crucial 3-2 series lead.

The Boosters, however, bucked tremendous pressure to come out triumphant in Game Six behind the endgame brilliance of import Elijah Millsap, who scored 13 of his game-high 30 points.

“We wanted to avoid a winner-take-all game, too many things can happen,” San Mig coach Tim Cone said. “We have to be very precise in our execution on both sides of the floor. But trying to beat them in three games in a row is a huge mountain to climb.”

Petron, which is on its 27th finals appearance, is gunning for its 20th title, while San Mig is looking to bag its 10th title in 24 finals appearances.

A San Mig win will also allow Cone to tie Baby Dalupan, who holds the all-time best of most number of championship titles won by a coach at 15.

According to league statistician Fidel Mangonon, it is the third straight time the Governors’ Cup Finals will be decided by a Game Seven. Tonight’s gigantic match is the 31st Game Seven in league history and the 22nd in a championship series.

The two teams are meeting in Game Seven of championship series for only the third time and their first after 21 years. Petron, then known as San Miguel Beer, won the first two. Petron Blaze and San Mig Coffee have been to seven previous Game Sevens in a championship series with both squads holding 3-4 records.