San Mig Coffee's Marc Pingris goes up for a shot over Alaska's Robert Dozier in Saturday night's PBA quarterfinals action at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. Jay R. Gotera Saudi Gazette MANILA — Peter June Simon regained his shooting touch to help propel the San Mig Coffee Mixers to a resounding 79-65 victory over the Alaska Aces in the deciding Game 3 of their PBA Commissioner's Cup quarterfinals series at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. Averaging just 7 points during the first two games of the series, Simon exploded for 21 points to keep alive the Mixers' bid for a third straight championship. San Mig will be making its seventh consecutive semifinals appearance under coach Tim Cone and will face the underdog seventh seed Air 21 Express in a best-of-five series starting Tuesday. The sixth-seeded Mixers won despite four key players – Marc Pingris, James Yap, import James Mays, and Justin Melton – saddled with injuries. The heartbreaking loss ended Alaska's campaign to defend the only crown it has won since Cone left the team. As expected, Game 3 was a heated, highly physical game with even officials and coaches of both squads exchanging verbal slurs at the sidelines. Using their championship experience to the hilt, the Mixers took control of the match in the third quarter, leading by as much as 18 points. The Aces tried countless times to mount a rally but the San Mig defense smothered their shooters. The Mixers held Alaska to just 35.5 percent shooting clip (27-of-76) while torching the net with a 45.9 percent shooting from the field (28-of-61). The Mixers also attacked the paint relentlessly, resulting in more free throws made (20-of-33 or 60.6 percent) than Alaska's 6-of-12 (50 percent). Aside from Simon, Mays also anchored San Mig's victory, finishing with 17 points and 24 rebounds. Mark Barroca added 14 points while Pingris chipped in 10 markers. Alaska was led by its reigning Best Import Robert Dozier, who tallied 23 points, 16 rebounds and two blocks. JVee Casio was the only other Ace who scored in double-digits, finishing with 14 points and five rebounds. Rain or Shine 97, Meralco 96 The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters weathered a Gary David-led onslaught to pull off a pulsating 97-96 overtime victory over the Meralco Bolts in the final match of their best-of-three quarterfinals series, thus arranging a best-of-5 semifinals duel with the undefeated top seed Talk N Text Tropang Texters. Rain or Shine import Wayne Chism scored a conference-high 37 points and grabbed 21 rebounds to lead the Painters to their second straight victory over the Bolts after losing Game 1 of the series. The Painters erected double-digit leads in regulation and early in the overtime period but had to use all the weapons in their arsenal to turn back the relentless Bolts. Scoreless in the first half, David erupted for 20 points in the second half and overtime. The Bolts unleashed an 11-0 run, capped by a David jumper over Rain or Shine import Wayne Chism with four seconds left, to force overtime. The Painters opened the five-minute extension period with a 10-2 run to take a 95-87 lead with 1:59 left. But David ignited yet another Meralco run, drilling back-to-back three-pointers to push the Bolts to within two, 95-93. The Bolts had a chance to level the match but import Darell Jackson lost the ball while attacking the basket. After a Rain or Shine turnover, Meralco had another shot at redemption but David's three-point attempt was short. Lee then sealed the win for Rain or Shine with two free throws. Lee finished with 18 points. Jackson led Meralco with 31 points while Sunday Salvacion added 18 markers. Game Monday: Rain or Shine vs. Talk N Text (Game 1 of best-of-5 semis).
