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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
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04
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23
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2024
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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
04
23
2024
ANGELES CITY – Barangay Ginebra survived a tough 58-minute grind versus a fierce-fighting Blackwater side, pulling off a 102-94 win to clinch an outright quarterfinal berth in the Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup at AUF Arena in Angeles City Saturday night.
Living on inside attacks almost all night, the Gin Kings pulled through in the end on a pair of big treys by LA Tenorio and Scottie Thompson.
The Elite blew chances to win in regulation and in the first overtime, and were visibly a spent force to stop the Gin Kings in the second extension play.
The Kings thus assured themselves of a playoff spot with a chance to make the top six for a twice-to-beat advantage in the first part of the two-stage quarterfinals at 5-4.
With the loss, Blackwater (1-7) is now a full game behind joint ninth placers Mahindra (2-6) and Star (2-6).
The Kings eventually broke the back of the Elite as Tenorio and Thompson drained back-to-back triples to make it 100-94.
Tenorio’s and Thompson’s endgame heroics preserved Greg Slaugher’s career-best 35 points.
In a rare game before his provincemates, Japeth Aguilar also put in solid numbers with 25 points and seven rebounds.
Still, the Gin Kings went through a tough, tough grind to survive.
Jason Ballesteros muffed two free throws with 4.6 ticks to go then Jervy Cruz missed an outside jumper in the final second as the game went into overtime at 84-all.
Another extra five minutes became necessary as Blackwater bungled another chance to win it in first OT.
Gaining possession with 20 seconds left, the Elite played the clock before going to Arthur dela Cruz who misfired a trey.
The Elite banked largely on hustle plays as they enjoyed a 46-42 lead at the turn.
They overcame the Kings’ 32-22 advantage on inside points with their 18-10 margin on points off errors and offensive rebounds plus 4-0 edge on fastbreak.
Blackwater pushed the ball on every opportunity, drawing balanced numbers from Dela Cruz, JP Erram, Carlo Lastimosa, Bam Gamalinda and Ralphy Reyes who had at least six points apiece in the first 24 minutes of play.
Ballesteros made it 48-42 at the start of the second half on a short jumper before the Kings worked on a 12-to-nothing run to surge ahead at 54-48.
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