Texters, Gin Kings prevail

OTHYUS Jeffers scored 23 points and LA Tenorio added 20 with their combined 15 in the fourth period helping Barangay Ginebra turn back Blackwater, 89-79, in the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup eliminations last night at Philsports Arena in Pasig.

The Gin Kings were pushed to the limit by the Elite, and coach Tim Cone was the first to say that it wasn’t a pretty game, but it suits him just fine.

“We’re trying to make do playing ugly and winning (in an) ugly (manner),” Cone said moments after the Gin Kings rose to 4-3 and stayed in the upper half of the 12-team field.

“We want grind-it-out type of games like this one, as we get ready for the playoffs,” he added. “It’s (winning) games like this one that makes you successful in the playoffs.”

Jeffers also had 14 rebounds and six assists and Tenorio dished out a night-high eight feeds as he continued to come up with sterling efforts that have helped Ginebra keep the league leaders in sight.

MJ RHETT of Blackwater grabs the rebound against Greg Slaughter of Ginebra in last night’s match at Philsports Arena. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

MJ Rhett had 24 points and 23 rebounds to pace the Elite, who dropped to 3-4 like defending champion Tropang TNT and NLEX after the Texters squeaked past the Road Warriors, 85-80, in the first game.

Greg Slaughter had 16 points and nine rebounds, and Japeth Aguilar finished with 14 and eight as the twin towers provided all sorts of match-up problems for the Elite.

Blackwater came into the game as the league’s top offensive team with an average of 105.5 points, and Cone was particularly proud of how his Kings shut down the Elite.

“We scored 35 points in the first half but I was a happy camper, because we gave up only 32,” Cone explained. “Holding them to 32 was a testament to the defense of my guys.”

Carlo Lastimosa finished with 19 and Mike Cortez 12 for the Elite.

The scores:

First Game

TNT 85—Simon 23, Carey 11, J Reyes 11, De Ocampo 9, Rosser 9, Rosario 8, Ababou 6, Tautuaa 4, Williams 4, Fonacier 0, Reyes 0.

NLEX 80—Thornton 35, Lanete 20, Anthony 7, Enciso 7, E. Villanueva 5, Alas 3, Taulava 3, Arboleda 0, Khobuntin 0, Reyes 0, J Villanueva 0.

Quarters: 34-15, 54-35, 67-61, 85-80

Second Game

GINEBRA 89—Jeffers 23, Tenorio 20, Slaughter 16, Aguilar 14, Mercado 5, Thompson 5, Devance 4, Caguioa 2, Cruz 0, Ellis 0, Helterbrand 0.

BLACKWATER 79—Rhett 24, Lastimosa 19, Cortez 12, Dela Cruz 9, Gamalinda 4, Sena 4, Cervantes 3, Erram 2, Tiongson 2, Golla 0, Reyes 0.

Quarters: 16-18, 35-32, 65-59, 89-79