"NEVER SAY DIE" LOL

‘Hindi nila makukuha sa amin yan’: San Mig Coffee will win Game Seven, vows Marc Pingris

Hindi nila makukuha sa amin yan.”

That was the bold declaration made by San Mig Super Coffee Mixers star forward Marc Pingris, who believes his team will still win their PLDT Home DSL Philippine Cup semifinals series against Ginebra despite losing Game Six on Monday.

The Gin Kings forced a do-or-die game in the Manila Clasico series despite Pingris’ finest scoring game of the conference. The hardworking big man finished with 20 points along with six rebounds and five assists, dominating his matchup with Ginebra counterpart Japeth Aguilar.

“Sadyang kinapos lang,” said Pingris, who scored 16 points in the second half. He noted that the team was unable to pull out the stops during critical junctures in Game Six.

“Napabayaan namin yung depensa namin.”

Pingris said promised to duplicate his Herculean effort in Game Six for Wednesday.

“Ibinuhos ko na lahat kanina, lahat naman kami, pero talagang kinapos lang. Pero OK lang yun, babawi kami, kailangan lang naming pagtrabahuhan talaga,” he said.

“Game Seven, sa amin yan.”

The San Mig Super Coffee Mixers are no stranger to big games, something they will bank on when they face Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in Game Seven of the PLDT Home DSL Philippine Cup semifinals on Wednesday.

“Marami na ring kaming game na ganito. Pang-ilan na rin naming itong Game Seven, tapos galing pa kami sa Talk ‘N Text do or die game. Destiny naming sigurong mag-Game Seven talaga. Anyway, mas experienced naman kami sa kanila,” Mixers guard Mark Barroca told InterAksyon.com

“Mas marami kaming experience na do-or-die games kaysa sa kanila sa two years na pinagdaanan namin.”

San Mig Coffee gunner Peter June Simon echoed Barroca’s thoughts.

“Ang sabi nga ni Coach (Tim Cone) sa amin, we’re used to this situation,” he said. “It’s not about X’s and O’s. Kailangan lang kalimutan naming yung game last night kasi malaking tulong daw yun.”

The Mixers dropped a close 94-91 decision in Game Six, but they’ve moved past that defeat as they gear up for the final game of the series.

“We never discussed it,” said Cone. “It’s just something we’re not focused on this time. It was a tough game to swallow. It’s over and done with. It’s not something we can dwell on or worry about.”

According to Cone, there was no longer any need to motivate his team for the do-or-die contest.

“It’s Game Seven, it’s the easiest game to get ready for. It’s a natural motivation,” said Cone. “We know we’re going to have a big crowd and from a coaching standpoint, that’s the last thing you’ll have to worry about to get the players ready because we know they’re ready.”

Barroca, meanwhile, is looking forward to the atmosphere of the match.

“Nakita ko mas malaki na yung improvement namin. Gusto naming maglaro na may pressure. Sabi ko nga sa kanila, kapag may pressure tayo, lalo tayong gumagaling dahil nga nadadala tayo ng experience natin. Kapag hindi ka experienced player, magiging wild ka sa loob,” he said.

 BUT SAN MIG COFFEE MIXERS SHOWED THAT THEY ARE BETTER THAN GINEBRA SAN MIGUEL

They may be rivals on the court when it comes to the PLDT Home DSL Philippine Cup semifinals series, but the bond between Gilas Pilipinas teammates Marc Pingris and Japeth Aguilar remains strong.

On Wednesday morning, hours before Game Seven of the Manila Clasico semis between Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers, Pingris took to Instagram to wish Aguilar luck.

“Good luck sa atin mamaya bro!!!” wrote Pingris in a message to Aguilar, while posting the artwork created by TV5 artist Robbie Muyrong originally published on InterAksyon.com.

Pingris has dominated Aguilar in their matchup in the series, with the high-flying Ginebra forward posting pedestrian numbers in the semis after a dominant run earlier in the tournament.

The Mixers forward, on the other hand, has stepped up his game, scoring 20 points in Game Six to lead his team. Aguilar, however, had the last laugh in the matchup after Ginebra came through in the endgame to force Game Seven.