With its roster back in full force, San Mig Coffee extends streak

Games today:

Cuneta Astrodome

4:15 p.m. – Meralco vs. Air21

6:30 p.m. – Petron vs.  GlobalPort

The San Mig Coffee Mixers picked up their fourth straight victory with an 81-77 come-from-behind win over the Barako Bull Energy Colas last night in the 38th PBA Governors’ Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

Barako Bull was in the lead for the large part of the game and even had a nine-point advantage, 75-66, early in the fourth quarter.

The Coffee Mixers, however, came with a searing rally, a fightback that was sealed by Mark Barroca’s endgame brilliance.

Barroca first hit a game-tying jumper then dropped two free throws that shoved the Coffee Mixers ahead, 79-77, with 18.3 seconds left.

Barako Bull wasted a golden opportunity to tie the contest after Mike Singletary, who was playing so well for the entire game, dribbled the ball off his foot with 9.5 seconds left.

Allein Maliksi sealed the win for the Coffee Mixers by sinking two gift shots in the next play.

San Mig, thus, moved up to solo second place with their fifth win in eight games and gained entry to the quarterfinals.

Marc Pingris rejoined San Mig after serving a two-game suspension and scored five points.

Marqus Blakely led the Coffee Mixers with 22 points, while Maliksi added 18 markers.

Singletary piled up 38 points on 6-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc. The Energy Colas tasted their second straight defeat to drop to 4-4 (win-loss).

In the second game, Mac Baracael hit three freethrows with 0.3 seconds left to lift the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings (3-4) to a 101-100 victory over Rain or Shine (4-4).

Baracael was fouled by Beau Belga from the three-point area in Ginebra’s last play, leading to the three freebies.

Mark Caguioa led the Kings with 32 points, eight rebounds and four rebounds.