Fastbreak: SMC, Barako register come-from-behind wins
RISING. Blakely and the Mixers are slowly racking up Ws. File photo by PBA Images/Nuki Sabio.
Barako Bull Energy Cola (98) - (97) GlobalPort Batang Pier
The Best: One cannot say enough about how big Mike Singletary was in this game. The former Texas Tech player carried the Energy almost single-handedly, scoring 43 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, and handing out 7 assists in 44 minutes of play. In doing so, Singletary outplayed his counterpart on the other team, Markeith Cummings, whose own 40-point production couldn't carry the Batang Pier to the win.
The Worst: Love how both Sol Mercado and Gary David shot the ball in this game, but I hate how they turned the ball over nearly as many times as the entire Barako Bull squad did. Mercado and David paired up for 9 turnovers in all, which is half of GlobalPort's total output and just 3 fewer than the Energy's. And, of course, they lost by just one point. Conclusions, folks?
Back to Earth?: Looks like the Pocket Rocket landed back on planet Earth after a couple of scintillating performances. Emman Monfort logged 23 minutes in this one as the starting PG, but he missed all 5 of his FGs, and scored all his 4 points from the line. He did have 5 assists, but his production was limited in no small part by his 5 fouls. Looks like he had a tough time matching up against the burlier Sol Mercado of GlobalPort.
San Mig Coffee Mixers (89) - (86) Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings
The Best: James Yap played one of his best games of the season so far, scoring 19 points on the strength of triples. He also hauled down 9 rebounds, had 2 assists, and a steal in 37 minutes of action as the Mixers leveled their win-loss record at 3-3. Big Game James outplayed Ginebra's Mark Caguioa, who scored just 6 points -- all from the free throw line -- in 33 minutes of play.
The Worst: Yes, Caguioa admitted it was his fault the Kings lost, and, well, I am happy he has an accurate sense of how awful he did. The Spark missed all ELEVEN of his field goals in this one, and though I applaud his efforts to grab 5 rebounds and assist on 6 baskets, I daresay that those will never make up for NOT making any field goals. Caguioa's main designation is to be Ginebra's best perimeter option, and he sucked big time tonight. BIG TIME.
Coming Up: After losing 3 of their first 4 games, the Mixers have put two wins back-to-back, and it looks like they have a good chance of extending that streak in their last 3 elims games -- against the inconsistent Alaska Aces, the unsure Barako Bull Energy and Meralco Bolts. If the Mixers do finish at 6-3, then they have a more than fair chance of securing a twice-to-beat edge for the quarterfinals. - Rappler.com
