DEFENDING champion Tropang TNT climbed into a share of third spot with a fourth straight win last night after clipping Mahindra, 83-78, and turning the final playdates of the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup eliminations important to the teams pushing for the best playoff positions possible.
Pint-sized point guard Jai Reyes came off the bench to shoot four triples and become the unexpected offensive anchor of the Texters in the low-scoring Petron Saturday Special game at Puerto Princesa City Coliseum in Palawan.
The Texters rose to 6-4 like Alaska, Rain or Shine and Barangay Ginebra as the race for the second twice-to-beat privilege suddenly looked wide open again. San Miguel was ahead of the four at 6-3.
“We didn’t play well today, we didn’t have the energy. We’re simply tired,” TNT coach Jong Uichico said. “But a win is a win. All games are important to get a shot at the top (spot).”
As things stand, Meralco, which has led this conference right from the start, booked the first quarterfinal bonus after a tight win over the Aces on Friday night, with San Miguel having the inside track on the last privilege having two more games remaining.
The Beermen will be playing the first of those two games today against ousted Phoenix Petroleum in the 5:15 contest at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
Should a tie involving more than two teams ensue after the elimination round, teams with the best two quotients will be left to fight it out in a one-game playoff for No. 2 and the Beermen will be at a disadvantage after having lost by 26 points to the Gin Kings.
A sweep of their remaining two games, however, will allow the Beermen to bag the second twice-to-beat incentive, but that would only happen if they stop the rampaging Texters on Wednesday next week.
Otherwise, Ginebra and Tropang TNT would play off for the second privilege, both teams having beaten the Beermen.
Teams that qualify third to sixth will land in best-of-three series, with Nos. 3 and 6 and Nos. 4 and 5 clashing for places in the Final Four.
Rain or Shine, on the other hand, will try to take a winning feeling into the playoffs when the Elasto Painters clash with also-ran Blackwater in the 3 p.m. contest today.
Phoenix, the Elite and GlobalPort have all bowed out of further contention with the last layoff slot to be disputed by the Enforcers and Star, both with 4-6 cards going into the final week of classification.
Jason Castro scored 11 points and import David Simon had 10 and 14 rebounds that were topped by two defensive gems against counterpart Augustus Gilchrist in the waning seconds that helped preserve the win.
The scores:
TROPANG TNT 83—Reyes J. 12, Castro 11, R. Reyes 11, Simon 10, Ababou 9, Tautuaa 8, Rosser 7, Seigle 6, Rosario 5, Fonacier 4, Carey .
MAHINDRA 78—Gilchrist 21, Dehesa 12, Revilla 11, Canaleta 9, Ramos 6, Aguilar 4, Bagatsing 4, Digregorio 4, Ballesteros 2, Guinto 2, Yee 2, Pinto 1, De Vera 0, Elorde 0, Webb 0.
Quarters: 23-21, 42-38, 64-60, 83-78