Ginebra boots out TNT, makes playoffs

ALI Peek of TNT puts up a shot off Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar (25) and Mark Caguioa in last night’s match at Smart Araneta Coliseum. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

LA Tenorio got his payback against Jimmy Alapag last night and took Barangay Ginebra along for the ride.

Two nights after being on the losing end in his match-up with the Talk ‘N Text sentinel, Tenorio wrested the endgame spotlight and led the Gin Kings to a 110-102 victory for the last quarterfinal slot in the PBA Governors’ Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Tenorio hit 10 of his 24 points in the fourth period, including a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line, as the Gin Kings won out in an endgame as wild as the one that took place in a TNT win Sunday night that necessitated this KO match.

“I told myself that it’s time that I took charge, like last conference when Mark (Caguioa) wasn’t there,” Tenorio said after the reigning MVP was whistled for his final foul with 2:53 to play.

“I told him, medyo mayabang nga, ‘ako na bahala (it even sounded like a boast, leave it to me),’” Tenorio said with a smile, when asked what he whispered in Caguioa’s ear while the latter walked  off the floor.

That final Caguioa foul sent Larry Fonacier to the free throw line for a split that trimmed what was once a 21-point Ginebra lead to 101-98, before Tenorio scored the last five points in a telling 7-0 spurt for 108-98 going into the final 63 seconds.

The victory shoved the Kings into a quarterfinal clash with No. 1 Petron Blaze tomorrow, the first of two games that they have to win in order to make it to the Final Four.

Ginebra is no stranger to such a disadvantage, as it beat Rain or Shine twice in the Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals before eventually making it to the title series opposite Alaska.

Dior Lowhorn led the Kings with 31 points and 10 rebounds, and Chris Ellis equaled his career-high of 19 that went with 12 boards.

Fonacier fired a career-high 31 points to pace the Texters, with Courtney Fells shooting 26, 19 of them coming in the third quarter where Talk ‘N Text tried to prune down Ginebra’s 70-49 lead.

Meanwhile, the Meralco Bolts gun for their first-ever semifinal stint today when they battle Barako Bull in a game that takes the lid off the playoffs at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Bolts have two chances to punch a ticket to the semifinals beginning with the 5:15 p.m. encounter.

San Mig Coffee also takes the first of two cracks it has at the Final Four against Alaska at 7:30 p.m.

The scores:

BRGY. GINEBRA 110—Lowhorn 31, Tenorio 24, Ellis 19, Caguioa 18, Mamaril 8, Wilson 4, Baracael 2, Aguilar 2, Helterbrand 2, Urbiztondo 0, Maierhofer 0.

TALK ‘N TEXT 102—Fonacier 31, Fells 26, Castro 14, De Ocampo 8, Alapag 6, Ferriols 4, Carey 4, Peek 4, Anthony 2, Aban 2, Al-Hussaini 1, Reyes 2.

Quarters: 26-15, 57-41, 87-78, 110-102