Jay R. Gotera
MANILA —The defending champion Tropang TNT Texters made a strong finishing kick to thrash the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 107-92, in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Wednesday night.
Breaking out of a tight contest, the Texters outscored the Kings, 34-19, in the fourth quarter to punch their fifth win in nine games, tying their victims at fourth to fifth spot in the team standings.
David Simon paced TNT with 30 points, including 12 in the final quarter, on top of 14 rebounds in 39.45 minutes on the floor.
Rookie Troy Rosario played his best game yet for TNT, thriving in his new small forward role, firing 22 markers. This season’s top draft pick Moala Tautuaa and top gunner Jayson Castro added 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Ginebra was led by its import Othyus Jeffers who posted 29 points and 16 rebounds.
Twin towers Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar scored 12 points apiece while Chris Ellis added 10.
Phoenix 124, Blackwater 120
The Phoenix Fuel Masters outlasted the Blackwater Elite in overtime, 124-120, to snap a two-game losing streak, improving to a 3-5 win-loss mark to boost their playoff hopes.
It was the highest-scoring game played so far this season, showing the offensive prowess of both teams.
Mac Baracael and import Kevinn Pinkney led the way for Phoenix, scoring 21 points apiece. JC Intal added 19 markers, RR Garcia had 18, Willy Wilson 16 and Josh Urbiztondo 12.
Phoenix survived a monster game from Blackwater’s Carlo Lastimosa who scored 26 of his team-high 28 points in the last 29 minutes of the game.
The Elite’s top gunner had the chance to win it after he was fouled while taking a three-point shot that tied the score at 109-all with 0.9 tenths of a second left. However, he missed the bonus shot, sending the game into overtime.
Rookie Art dela Cruz added 21 points, four rebounds, five assists and four steals.
Blackwater suffered its fourth straight defeat, finding itself on the brink of elimination after falling to 11th place in the standings with a 3-7 mark.
After Blackwater scored the first basket in the overtime period, Phoenix racked up eight unanswered points, sparked by back-to-back baskets from Baracael, to take a 117-111 lead.
Still red-hot, Lastimosa scored five straight points, including a three-pointer to make it a one-point game, 117-116.
But Phoenix’s Chico Lanete responded with a three-pointer of his own. Pinkney then responded to another Lastimosa basket with a putback to make it 122-118 with 33 seconds left. After Blackwater’s Mike Cortez made two free throws, Garcia sealed the victory with two charities of his own, 124-120, with nine ticks left on the clock.
Games Friday: Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (4-4) vs. Phoenix Fuel Masters (3-5) and NLEX Road Warriors (4-4) vs. GlobalPort Batang Pier (2-6).
