Elite thru; Kings nail 4th
Ginebra’s Greg Slaughter shoots over TNT’s Matt Ganuelas-Rosser. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Blackwater won’t end the year without an achievement it can be proud of.
With Mike Cortez and Riego Gamalinda leading a huge third-quarter assault, the Elite ousted the Mahindra Enforcers, 108-99, Sunday night to earn a breakthrough trip to the quarterfinals of the Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup.
“For the whole team, going into the playoffs is a big thing,” said Blackwater coach Leo Isaac, after bringing the ballclub to the playoffs for the first time in the league. “Hopefully, we can continue to develop and get better.”
Barely passing the grade, the Elite wound up 10th in the eliminations with their third win in 11 games. They will next take on No. 3 Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, who will be armed with a twice-to-beat bonus.
Greg Slaughter had 27 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks as Barangay Ginebra bucked TNT’s repeated rallies to prevail, 91-84, in the other game to clinch the No. 4 spot.
The Kings, tied with the GlobalPort Batang Pier at 7-4, face the ninth-ranked Star Hotshots armed with a twice-to-beat advantage.
The Tropang Texters fell to sixth (6-6) and will take on NLEX in the next round.
Cortez fired a career-high 30 points and 10 rebounds, his second of two three-pointers in the game giving him his 500th career triple.
The scores:
First Game
BLACKWATER 108—Cortez 30, Cervantes 24, Gamalinda 16, Lastimosa 14, Dela Cruz 8, Erram 8, Ballesteros 4, Canada 2, Reyes 2, Golla 0.
MAHINDRA 99—Ramos 22, Digregorio 20, Revilla 15, Canaleta 12, Dehesa 12, Yee 7, Guinto 6, Pinto 2, Webb 2, Pascual 1, Bagatsing 0, Hubalde 0, Laure 0, Paredes 0.
Quarters: 23-26, 51-42, 80-61, 108-99
Second Game
GINEBRA 91—Slaughter 27, Aguilar 17, Mercado 12, Devance 8, Ellis 8, Tenorio 6, Caguioa 5, Salva 4, Cruz 2, Thompson 2, Helterbrand 0, Marcelo 0.
TNT 84—Rosario 22, Fonacier 14, Castro 13, Carey 10, Williams 9, Reyes 6, Aban 4, Tautuaa 4, Miranda 2, Rosser 0.
Quarters: 25-21, 45-40, 70-56, 91-84
