Kings edge E Painters in 3 OT
Ease out Elite; Texters in
Game tomorrow (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 6:30 p.m. – Phoenix vs TNT KaTropa
Barangay Ginebra outlasted Rain or Shine, 100-92, in a marathon tripleovertime battle last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum to set up a best-ofthree matchup with the same rival in the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals beginning Monday.
Earlier, Matthew Wright poured in a career third-best 32 points and Phoenix Fuel weathered GlobalPort’s fiery fourth-quarter fightback for a 104-100 win and a shot at the last quarters berth versus TNT KaTropa.
The Fuel Masters and the Texters face off in a knockout duel tomorrow, also at the Big Dome for the right to play top seed San Miguel Beer in the Final Eight.
Victories by the Kings and the Fuel Masters eased the Blackwater Elite out of the post-elims play.
The other quarterfinal pairings pit No. 2 Magnolia versus No. 7 GlobalPort and No. 3 Alaska Milk against No. 6 NLEX.
Japeth Aguilar endured a bad back and came through with 30 points, including crucial charities in the third overtime that helped the Kings through.
“One hour before report time, Japeth called to say that he has a bad back. With Greg Slaughter out, we forced him (Japeth) to play. Big credit to Japeth he fought through with his injury,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.
“We persevered all the way through. We’re developing character and trying to find a way. Tonight, we found a way,” Cone also said.
Wright went 10-of-21 from the field, including four three-point conversions, and stood at the forefront of their early breakaway for a huge 31-point cushion they used to fend off the Batang Pier’s endgame chase.
Jeff Chan, RJ Jazul and Gelo Alolino also delivered as the Fuel Masters avoided outright ouster in salvaging a 5-6 win-loss record in the single-round-robin eliminations.
Phoenix Petroleum coach Louie Alas rued nearly losing the game despite a huge 31-point lead, 66-35, erected on a blazing 17-0 assault.
“We don’t know how to finish a game. We figured in a lot of games decided at endgame. If we know how to finish a game, we’re not in the situation where we are now,” said Alas.
“Good thing we had a huge lead. Coaches say a win is a win, but we have to learn,” added Alas after surviving the match marred by his heated verbal tussle with Kelly Nabong.
“He was throwing expletives and I told him he picked the wrong guy. He’s so disrespectful. He hasn’t learned even as he’s been sacked by his previous team (Meralco),” Alas said on his altercation with Nabong.
Yousef Taha ably filled in for Nabong after the latter’s ouster on flagrant infractions, teaming up with the returning Terrence Romeo, Stanley Pringle and Nico Elorde as the Batang Pier threatened to within four at 102-98 with 25 ticks to go.
The Batang Pier eventually ran out of time in their fightback and bungled a chance at the Top Six.
Playing his first game in the season, Romeo went 8-of-18 from the field to collect a teamhigh 20 points that went with two rebounds, one assist and one steal against two turnovers.
The scores: First Game Phoenix 104 – Wright 32, Chan 18, Alolino 10, Jazul 10, Wilson 9, Kramer 8, Perkins 7, Eriobu 4, Mendoza 4, Intal 2, Cortes 0, Guevarra 0.
GlobalPort 100 – Romeo 20, Anthony 17, Pringle 16, Taha 12, Elorde 12, Grey 9, Gabayni 7, Guinto 6, Flores 1, Sargent 0, Juico 0, Teng 0, Nabong 0. Quarterscores: 32-16, 63-35, 86-67, 104-100 Second Game GINEBRA 100 – Aguilar J. 30, Tenorio 20, Devance 15, Mercado 10, Thompson 10, Cruz 6, Caguioa 3, Ferrer 3, Mariano 3, Aguilar R. 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 92 – Belga 17, Norwood 13, Daquioag 11, Ahanmisi 11, Washington 9, Trollano 8, Almazan 8, Borboran 6, Ponferada 4, Nambatac 3, Maiquez 2, Matias 0.
Quarterscores: 26-20, 45-34, 67-62, 80-80, 85-85, 87-87, 100-92