ALLAN THE MAN

The Purefoods Star Hotshots got a big lift from backup center Yousef Taha, who made big plays in the fourth quarter, as they escaped with a tight 77-74 win over Meralco at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.

Taha made several big plays in the last four minutes, scoring on three consecutive baskets and playing a key role defensively as he sparked an 11-2 run that turned a one-point deficit into an eight-point lead, 77-69, inside the final minute.

WATCH PUREFFODS VS MERALCO NOVEMBER 23 FULL REPLAY VIDEO BELOW:

TWO league governors were quick to play down a reported spat at the sidelines of the heated match between San Mig Coffee and Meralco in the PBA Governors Cup semifinals on Sunday night.

Witnesses said Meralco board representative Ramon Segismundo and San Mig governor Rene Pardo exchanged angry gestures during one controversial play just before halftime in the Mixers' 79-73 victory in Game Four.

Segismundo, who is the incoming league chairman, admitted he made gestures towards the San Mig bench but said it was not directed at any member of the team but at a referee which Pardo and Mixers coach Tim Cone were talking to at that time.

THE SCORES:

San Mig Coffee 79 - Blakely 23, Yap 19, Pingris 16, Barroca 7, Mallari 4, Devance 4, Acuna 3, Simon 3, Reavis 0.

Meralco 73 - West 22, Cardona 13, Hugnatan 13, Ross 9, Dillinger 6, Salvacion 6, Cortez 4, Hodge 0, Wilson 0, 

QUARTERS: 27-16, 45-38, 66-56, 79-73

San Mig Coffee moved one step away from a return to the Governors’ Cup finals, and the Mixers found a most unlikely hero in Alex Mallari. The rookie guard scored a career-high 23 points, including 13 in the fourth period, to lead his team’s 94-87 win on Friday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

“Alex was awesome tonight,” said San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone. The Mixers caught a good break when Meralco import Mario West left with a right shoulder sprain after a foul by San Mig Coffee forward Joe Devance.

“We were fortunate that Mario went out,” said Cone. Despite playing with an all-Filipino lineup, the Bolts did not go away. They were still within striking distance trailing by two points, 81-79, when Mallari hit a three-pointer with 2:38 left.

The San Mig Coffee Mixers used tough defense to go on a late run to get away from the Meralco Bolts, 83-73, in the opening game of their best-of-five semifinals series on Sunday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

It was a tight defensive struggle between the two teams for most of the game, with Meralco behind by only a single point midway through the fourth quarter, 70-69, after a desperation three-pointer by John Wilson to beat the 24-second buzzer.

Meralco import Mario West was fuming after the his team’s loss to the San Mig Coffee Mixers on Friday.

The Bolts reinforcement complained that there should have been a foul called on his final attempt, which could have given him a chance to win or tie the game.

FIL-AM guard Jared Dillinger is finally set for a return after a five-month injury layoff, a development that augurs well for the rejuvenated Meralco Bolts in the PBA Governors’ Cup.

Dillinger was acquired by the Bolts from sister team Talk 'N Text in a three-team trade also involving Barako Bull last June but has yet to suit up for the team owing to a pelvic injury suffered in a car accident last April.

The papers for the trade have been forwarded to the PBA Commissioner's Office for approval on Friday.