Fastbreak: San Mig Coffee flaunts dominant form

Barako Bull Energy Cola (103) – (94) Air21 Express

The Best: Michael Singletary almost single-handedly carried the Energy in this game. The former Texas Tech alum dropped 41 big ones on the Express, while also grabbing 12 rebounds on top of 2 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. Needless to say, he was everywhere in this game, and if Barako Bull is to continue winning, then he will have to continue dominating.

The Worst: Why is Ogie Menor even starting for Air21? He has never really been able to translate his great scoring from the collegiate scene onto the pro circuit, and he doesn’t really do much else outside of irking at least one person from the opposing team. In this game, the former Red Lion piled up 5 markers, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists in 21 minutes. Again, why?

Wicked Wings: I did say Singletary “almost singlehandedly” carry Barako, right? That’s mainly because he got a hefty amount of help from wicked wingmen Ronjay Buenafe and Danny Seigle. That pair shot 13/24 from the floor, grabbed 7 boards, and had 6 dimes. They provided a huge lift for Rajko Toroman’s crew, and outplayed their counterparts from Air21 — Menor and KG Canaleta.

San Mig Coffee Mixers (118) – (99) Talk N’ Text Tropang Texters

The Best: The old reliables played like old reliables in the Mixers’ win over the Tropang Texters. Gilas Pilipinas stalwart Marc Pingris did really well with 23 points and 8 rebounds, while “Big Game” James Yap broke out of a slump by dropping 21 markers on the strength of 3 triples. The sublime inside-outside game displayed by the Mixers was virtually unstoppable from the get-go in this their first win of the conference.

The Worst: Big men Sean Anthony and Rabeh Al-Hussaini delivered for coach Norman Black, but it was the TNT backcourt that struggled to contribute. In sharp contrast to their previous outing, Ryan Reyes and Jai Reyes combined for just 13 points here as the Texters surely missed the services of mainstays Jayson Castro, Larry Fonacier, Jimmy Alapag, and Ranidel De Ocampo (RDO, however, isn’t really a guard).

SMC’s Newest Acquisition: Four guys finished with double-digit scoring for San Mig Coffee: the aforementioned Pingris and Yap, plus Marqus Blakely, who scored 24, and new acquisition Allein Maliksi, who tossed in 10 points in just 17 minutes. Maliksi is a budding star in the league, having a wide array of offensive skills to match with great size at the wings. While Blakely serves as the main swingman in this conference, Maliksi should be the Mixers’ starting SF when the Philippine Cup opens late this year. – Rappler.com