Texters seal q’final slot
RYAN Reyes of TNT KaTropa almost loses possession under pressure from Cyrus Baguio of Phoenix. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
ANTIPOLO—Michael Madanly played his best PBA game yet, shooting 30 points while spearheading TNT KaTropa’s third quarter breakaway last night for a 124-117 win over Phoenix Petroleum as the Texters stayed unscathed in the PBA Governors’ Cup.
Madanly, the Texters’ Asian import, hit three triples in the third canto, and, from a 52-all halftime count, TNT opened up commanding leads to win pulling away and hike its elimination round mark to 6-0 at Ynares Center here.
Mychal Ammons scattered 22 points and had 18 rebounds and three others tossed in 11 or better for coach Jong Uichico, who sealed a place in the quarterfinals with a win and inched his Texters closer to a twice-to-beat privilege in the first round of the playoffs.
Madanly made eight of the Texters’ conference-high 19 triples.
GlobalPort roared to a second straight victory after surviving the loss of an early 20-point lead, nipping San Miguel Beer, 98-92, in the nightcap.
The Batang Pier rose to 2-4 and dropped the Beermen to a share of second spot with idle Mahindra and Barangay Ginebra at 4-2.
Eugene Phelps still got away with 49 points despite consistent double teams by the Texters, but his back up was held to the minimum as the Fuel Masters lost for the first time in their last three games to drop to 2-4.
“We just want to win as many games as we can,” Uichico told reporters when asked how he sees the playoff picture after the win. “Malayo pa (it’s still a long way to a twice-to-beat privilege).”
Simon Enciso scored 17 points, but Cyrus Baguio, the veteran who was one of the hero’s in the last Phoenix win, was starved to just five points.
Meanwhile, Alaska and Star, powerhouses on a tailspin, slug it out in a Petron Saturday Special Game slated in Panabo, Davao del Norte today.
Tipoff is at 5 p.m. with the Aces seeking to arrest a three-game slide and the Hotshots out to check a four-game skid. Both are at 1-4 and way out of the playoff picture at the moment.
The Texters came out of the halftime break with all guns cocked and firing, with Madanly proving to be the big difference as TNT took an 88-68 lead going into the fourth quarter.
The scores:
First Game
TNT KATROPA 124—Madanly 30, Ammons 22, De Ocampo 17, Rosales 13, Castro 11, Reyes 7, Fonacier 6, Rosario 5, Tautuaa 5, Carey 3, Williams 3, Nuyles 2, Ababou 0, Rosser 0.
PHOENIX 117—Phelps 49, Enciso 17, Lee 15, Buenafe 8, Wilson J. 6, Baguio 5, Wilson W. 5, Lanete 4, Caperal 3, Cruz 3, Miranda 2, Pennisi 0, Urbiztondo 0, Torres 0, Borboran 0.
Quarters: 29-24, 52-52, 88-68, 124-117
Second Game
GLOBALPORT 98—Pringle 25, Romeo 18, Glover 15, Dehesa 8, Taha 8, Wahington 8, Yeo 8, Mamaril 6, Semerad 2, Kramer 0, Salvacion 0.
SAN MIGUEL 92—Reid 41, Fajardo 21, Lassiter 15, Cabagnot 6, Santos 4, Heruela 3, David 2, Arana 0, Tubid 0.
Quarters: 23-8, 41-39, 73-66, 98-92
