Still a 3-way fight for top 2 berths

THE GIANT-KILLER of the Oppo-PBA Commissioner’s Cup came within three minutes Sunday of claiming a third victim before Meralco, off-form from a long rest, caught fire down the stretch to repulse second-year club Mahindra, 94-86.

Jimmy Alapag, who came out of retirement to provide leadership and backcourt fire this season, and rookie Baser Amer hit back-to-back three-point shots to ignite a 13-point windup by  the Bolts that took the fight out of the Enforcers, early conquerors of the San Miguel Beermen and the Alaska Aces.

The win assured the Bolts at least a tie for a top two finish in the eliminations with a leading 7-2 card even as Barangay Ginebra came up with its most impressive showing so far by humbling San Miguel Beer in the second game, 110-84, to formalize its entry in the playoffs with a fourth-running 6-4 card.

The Beermen kept third place at 5-3 behind the Alaska Aces (6-3) and now need to sweep their three remaining games against NLEX, Tropang TNT and Phoenix to boost their bid for a top two slot.

The Texters, Road Warriors and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, all tied at 5-4, are also assured of playoff berths with the Enforcers remaining in contention for the eighth and last qualifying spot at 4-5.

Mahindra actually has two chances to still advance but the Enforcers will be facing tough squads in the Texters and the  Star Hotshots, now running ninth at 4-6 after successive losses to San Miguel and Alaska. If Mahindra loses to TNT on April 9, it’s April 13 date with the Star becomes a knockout duel for the last quarterfinal slot.

The Meralco-Alaska duel this Friday is expected to decide who gets one of the two top berths that will earn a twice-to-beat bonus in the quarterfinals against the No. 7 and No. 8 qualifiers. It will be No. 3 against No. 6 and No. 4 against No. 5 for the next four survivors in separate best-of-three series to decide the two other semifinalists.

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Having lost their NBA record 54-game winning  streak at home Friday, the Golden State Warriors regrouped Sunday (Monday in Manila) to clobber the Portland Trail Blazers, 136-111, at their Oracle Arena in Oakland and tied the record for the second-most wins in a season of 69.

Stephen Curry fired 39 points, Draymond Green notched his 13th triple-double of the season with 22 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists and Klay Thompson scored 31 for the Warriors, who now need to win four of their final five games  to break the record for most victories in one season of 72 set by the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls led by Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.

The 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers also scored 69 wins that the 1996-97 Chicago Bulls matched.

The Warriors, who avenged their  137-105 loss to the Trail Blazers last Feb. 19, tangle next with the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 5 before facing San Antonio and Memphis twice to cap their schedule. The Warriors battle the Spurs at home on April 7 and they collide anew in San Antonio on April 10. They visit the Timberwolves on April 9 then  host them in their season-ending game on April 13.

The Warriors suffered their first home defeat at the Oracle Arena in more than 14 months to the Boston Celtics, who escaped with a 109-106 decision Friday. Their last loss before that was an 87-79 setback from the Spurs in San Antonio on March 19.