Jay R. Gotera Saudi Gazette MANILA — The San Mig Super Coffee Mixers rode on the ferocious performance of import James Mays to blow away the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings, 90-80, Sunday night in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. Despite a taller Ginebra frontline, the 6'8” Mays dominated the paint, scoring 29 points and grabbing 29 rebounds, to power the Mixers to their second straight victory in the tournament. It was the first meeting between the two squads since they figured in an epic Game 7 do-or-die game in the semifinals of the Philippine Cup just last month, which the Mixers won en route to the championship. Just like in that classic match, the two bitter rivals fought toe-to-toe exchanging huge baskets to the delight of their humongous fans. The Kings grabbed the lead, 71-69, at the start of the fourth quarter on baskets by Mark Caguioa and Japeth Aguilar. But Mays responded with six of San Mig's next eight points as they Mixers regained the lead, 79-75. The Mixers then shut down Ginebra with a choking defense as they pulled away. Mays' energetic effort earned for him the monicker “Mr. Everywhere” from San Mig coach Tim Cone. “James was a monster on the boards, a monster on the hustle … he was just everywhere,” Cone said after the match. Of the 29 rebounds the athletic San Mig import snared, 12 of them were offensive boards, one more than Ginebra's total offensive rebounds. Overall, the Mixers outrebounded the Kings, 62-48. In the first three quarters, Ginebra's Leon Rodgers appeared to be the more unstoppable import as he piled up 32 points going into the final period. But the burly Ginebra gunner lost steam and his touch in the fourth quarter, scoring just three points on charities and failing to score a field goal, as the Kings tumbled to their second straight loss after winning their opener. Rookie Ian Sangalang, this year's second overall draft pick, was a major contributor in San Mig's fourth quarter explosion, scoring eight points, just as the Kings were trying to contain Mays. Sangalang finished with 10 points and seven rebounds. James Yap and Peter June Simon added 13 and 11 points, respectively for San Mig. Japeth Aguilar and LA Tenorio contributed 12 and 11 points respectively for Ginebra.Greg Slaughter, the 6'11” Ginebra center, struggled while trying to defend Mays. He finished with seven points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks. Talk N Text 101, Barako Bull 96 Jayson Castro made huge plays in the payoff period as the Talk N Text Tropang Texters came from behind to beat the Barako Bull Energy, 101-96, in the first match of the Sunday double-header. The ca-quick TNT point guard made made two crucial passes allowing Ranidel de Ocampo and Larry Fonacier to bang in a three-pointer each giving the Texters a 91-84 edge with less than two minutes left in the game. The Texters then converted 10 free throws to wrap up their fourth straight victory in the conference. Castro led TNT with 25 points and five assists, while import Richard Howell had another monstrous double-double production of 23 points and 20 rebounds. New recruit KG Canaleta scored 18 points while Fonacier added16 points, including four three-point shots. Josh Dollard, Barako Bull's high-scoring import, churned in 33 points, 14 of them in the fourth quarter. However, he committed six turnovers that proved costly for the Energy as they fell to a 1-3 win-loss card in a tie with idle defending champion Alaska Aces. Ronjay Buenafe scored a personal conference-high 18 points. But his three missed free throws in the endgame contributed to his team's defeat. Game Monday: Air21 vs. Alaska.
