Gin Kings halt slide; Energy book QF slot
BARAKO Bull’s Chico Lanete slips a pass off NLEX big man Enrico Villanueva in last night’s game at Mall of Asia Arena. JILSON SECKLER TIU
Barangay Ginebra snapped out of a three-game losing streak in style last night by bringing down Alaska, 101-92, to stay in the upper half of the standings for the PBA Philippine Cup playoffs at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasig.
LA Tenorio also snapped out of his offensive slump in a big way, shooting 22 points, eight of them in the fourth period, as he towed the Gin Kings to their sixth win in 10 games and with a shot at a twice-to-beat privilege in the first phase of the quarterfinals.
The 5-foot-9 playmaker, who came into the game averaging just 6.4 points a game to become the subject of nasty trade rumors, hit five of those eight fourth quarter points in a string which gave the Kings an 86-76 lead with 6:05 left.
It was the first loss in the last three games for the Aces, who fell out of the lead for the first time in the tournament with an 8-2 card.
The good thing for Alaska is that it still has its fate in its hands as far as its chances of advancing to the Final Four outright are concerned.
RR Garcia spiced his career-high 22 points with a couple of defensive gems in the endgame, helping Barako Bull pull off a 92-87 victory over NLEX in the first game to officially claim a quarterfinal slot.
Four others tossed in 10 points or more for the Energy, who improved to 4-6.
The loss was the seventh, also in 10 games, for the Road Warriors, who led after three quarters and had a chance to win it in the stretch only to lapse into a series of errors.
With the elimination round entering its final week starting today, the Aces have one game remaining, against Rain or Shine on Friday, which could be a KO match for one of those automatic semifinal seats.
The Elasto Painters have a 7-2 record and will also play Ginebra on Sunday, which it could afford to lose if they beat the Aces. Ginebra is at 6-4 and needs to beat the Painters to avoid a tie with Globalport and Meralco.
The scores:
First Game
BARAKO BULL 92—Garcia 22, Lanete 13, Wilson 13, Pennisi 12, Intal 10, Marcelo 7, Pascual 6, Lastimosa 5, Miranda 4, Pena 0, Salvador 0, Paredes 0.
NLEX 87—Cardona 23, Taulava 17, Borboran 9, Ramos 9, R. Villanueva 8, J. Villanueva 6, Canaleta 4, H. Arboleda 3, Lingganay 2, Baloria 2, Apinan 1, Raymundo 0, W. Arboleda 0.
Quarters: 18-18, 41-39, 62-66, 92-87
Second Game
BRGY. GINEBRA 101—Tenorio 20, Baracael 19, Aguilar 18, Yeo 12, Slaughetr 12, mamaril 8, Caguioa 6, Ellis 4, Reyes 2, Urbiztondo 0, Helterbrand 0, Brondial 0.
ALASKA 92—Abueva 24, Casio 18, Hontiveros 9, Menk 8, Baguio 7, Jazul 6, Banchero 5, Eman 4, Thoss 4, Manuel 4, Dela Cruz 3, Exciminiano 0.
Quarters: 28-22; 47-48; 73-69; 101-92
