TNT, SMB SEAL DEAL
Games tomorrow (PhilSports Arena) 3 p.m. – San Miguel vs Rain or Shine
5:45 p.m. – TNT vs Ginebra STANDINGS W-L TNT, San Miguel Beer, y-TNT 9-1
Barangay Ginebra and y-San Miguel 8-2 y- Ginebra 8-2 Meralco filled up the y-Meralco 7-4
coveted Top 4 in the PBA X-Magnolia 7-4 x-NLEX 7-4 Governors’ Cup playoffs x-Converge 6-5
after separate victories x-Phoenix 4-7 NorthPort 3-8 by the Tropang Giga and Rain or Shine 2-8
the Beermen last night Terrafirma 2-9 Blackwater 1-10 at the PhilSports Arena. x -clinched
The Tropang Giga quarterfinals y-clinched booted out playoffstwice-to-beat
chasing NorthPort, advantage
134-110, to stay at the helm at 9-1 with a chance to even finish No. 1 with one more victory against the Gin Kings (8-2) tomorrow.
TNT’s 24-point romp also completed the Final-8 cast with Phoenix (4-7) nosing out NorthPort (3-8) for the eighth and last seat.
Also through are Magnolia (74), NLEX (7-4) and Converge (6-5), which like the Fuel Masters, carry a twice-to-win disadvantage against the four highest seeds in the coming post-season.
The June Mar Fajardo-less Beermen, riding on Cameron Clark’s career-high 45 points and 17 rebounds, clobbered NLEX in the other game, 120-106.
Jorge Gallent’s troops jacked up their record to 8-2 for joint second with the Gin Kings while denying the Road Warriors (7-4) of a place in the top tier and a coveted win-once advantage.
NLEX’ loss was Meralco’s gain as it was the Bolts (7-4) who took the No. 4 position due to superior +18 quotient in the tiebreaker against Magnolia (+14) and the Road Warriors (-32) after their logjam at fourth.
Back in action since beating SMB, 105-103, last Feb. 19, TNT faced an early 12-point deficit against the backs-against-the-wall Batang Pier but turned things around with a 47-16 exchange in the second quarter.
“We were rusty at first but I kind of expected that. But the guys picked it up in the second quarter,” said TNT coach Jojo Lastimosa. The scores: First Game TNT 134 – Hollis-Jefferson 31, Pogoy 22, Oftana 16, K.Williams 12, M.Williams 9, Chua 8, Khobuntin 7, Tungcab 7, Montalbo 6, GanuelasRosser 6, Varilla 5, Castro 2, Cruz 2, Marcelo 1, Acuno 0.
NorthPort 110 – Murphy 35, Tolentino 19, Zamar 15, Bolick 14, Munzon 10, Caperal 5, Sumang 3, Chan 3, Taha 2, Calma 2, Ayaay 2, Salado 0, Vigil 0, Balagasay 0. Quarterscores: 19-27, 66-43, 109-69, 134-110 Second Game San Miguel 120 – Clark 45, Perez 23, Cruz 16, Bulanadi 14, Enciso 8, Lassiter 8, Manuel 4, Tautuaa 2, Ross 0, Romeo 0, Brondial 0.
NLEX 106 – Selden Jr. 32, Ganuelas-Rosser 29, Trollano 14, Anthony 8, Semerad 6, Miranda 5, Rosales 5, Alas 5, Nieto 2.
Quarterscores: 28-19, 61-47, 88-75, 120-106