PBA Finals 2013: Schedule and Governors' Cup Predictions

If this is how Elijah Millsap is going to treat the PBA Finals, the San Mig Coffee Mixers stand very little chance. 

The former UAB standout, who averaged more than 17 points per game with the Los Angeles D-Fenders in the NBA Development League last year, exploded for 35 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists on Friday as the Petron Blaze Boosters jumped out to a 1-0 series lead with a dominant 100-84 victory.

Petron and San Mig both advanced to the Governors' Cup Finals with impressive 3-1 series victories in the previous round, but the Boosters got double-digit scoring from six players and held James Yap to just eight points for the integral, series-opening win at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. 

The series now shifts back to The Big Dome for two games, where the Coffee Mixers will hope to rekindle their championship hopes. 

With so much talent on display, the rest of the series figures to provide nothing but scintillating back-and-forth play. 

Blaze Boosters Player to Watch: Elijah Millsap

Every team is allowed one import, and Petron clearly chose wisely with the addition of Elijah Millsap. 

The explosive guard has never been the most efficient offensive player—he shot just 42.2 percent from the field in college and 41.7 percent with the D-Fenders last season. Simply put, though, he is an electric playmaker. 

In three collegiate seasons between Louisiana-Lafayette and UAB, he averaged 12.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.5 steals per contest.

Those numbers only improved in the D-League, as he racked up 17.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.7 steals per game over an impressive three-year career.

Again, Millsap can be erratic at times, but with that comes the ability to take over games for the Boosters. As he goes, so does this team—although its depth shouldn't be understated.  

Coffee Makers Player to Watch: Marqus Blakely

You know, San Mig's import player isn't too shabby, either. 

Blakely, who finished Game 1 with a box score-stuffing 23 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks, has proven to be a true force in the PBA. 

Playing mostly power forward for Vermont, where he was a two-time America East Player of the Year in 2009 and 2010, Blakely averaged 14.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 2.0 blocks per contest.

Over two seasons in the D-League, the high-flier averaged 15.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.0 blocks in just 27.7 minutes per game. 

While Blakely isn't an outside threat like Millsap, the athleticism he brings to the post position has proven difficult for anyone to stop at this level, and he can absolutely change a game defensively with his ability to protect the rim. 

Prediction: Boosters in 6

Petron is just too deep. 

Millsap is the most dynamic player on the court, and as the Boosters proved in Game 1, they can get production from several different places. 

The Coffee Makers aren't just going to fold, of course. Yap, who shot just 2-of-9 and didn't score until the fourth quarter of Game 1, isn't going to have many more nights like that. Tim Cone's squad will clean things up—San Mig's 18 turnovers resulted in 21 points for the Boosters on Friday—and a win a couple of games.

But in the end, Millsap will carry his squad to the championship.  

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