PBA IMAGES
CROWD-DARLING Barangay Ginebra and the surprising Mahindra Enforcers firmed up their respective bids for top four berths in the PBA Governors’ Cup playoffs after pulling off contrasting victories Sunday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
The Gin Kings peeled away from a tight fourth quarter to post a 101-87 win over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and catch the Enforcers in a tie for second place.
Mahindra played with complete control in tearing Blackwater apart, 97-88, in the curtain-raiser.
Justin Brownlee scored 31 points, had 13 rebounds and missed a triple double by three assists, while LA Tenorio fired 15 points that went with nine feeds as the duo led the Gin Kings to their fifth win in seven games.
The Enforcers got 23 points and 19 rebounds from import James White in snapping a two-game losing streak and inching closer to a first-ever playoff appearance.
The win also matched Mahindra’s franchise-best mark as far as won games in a conference is concerned. The Enforcers also won five games here last season.
Rain or Shine dropped to a level 3-3 record, its chances of nailing a top four berth for a twice-to-beat privilege taking a significant hit.
Blackwater, on the other hand, lost a fifth straight game and is taking up the rear with a 1-6 record.
TNT KaTropa still leads the 12-team pack with a 6-0 record and is safely in the quarterfinals.
“We really just worked on focusing on what made us 4-0 and worked on our mistakes [in losing the previous two games],” Mahindra assistant coach Chris Gavina told reporters.
Manny Pacquiao, the boxing icon-turned senator who is the listed playing coach of the Enforcers, scored a career-high four points, hitting a triple in the second period which was well-applauded by the big crowd.
“We got LA back and he boosted our confidence,” Gavina said of Revilla, who suffered a broken nose in practice three weeks ago and sat out the previous three outings where the Enforcers went 1-2. “He is the extension of the coaching staff [on the floor].”
In just its second season in the PBA, Mahindra looks to be well on its way to making it past the eliminations for the first time.
Mahindra and Blackwater entered the league last season as expansion teams, with the Enforcers having a better performance overall.
The scores:
First Game
MAHINDRA 97—White 23, Ramos 15, Taha 13, Canaleta 8, Digregorio 8, Elorde 6, Bagatsing 5, Agovida 4, Pacquiao 4, Yee 4, Ballesteros 1, Aguilar 0, Guinto 0, Revilla 0.
BLACKWATER 88—Lastimosa 17, Dawson 15, Miranda 10, Pascual 10, Qawash 9, Dela Cruz 7, Melano 7, Sena 6, Cervantes 4, Canada 2, Gamalinda 1, Reyes 0, Sumang 0.
Quarters: 18-14, 46-39, 74-63, 97-88
Second Game
GINEBRA 101—Brownlee 31, Mercado 19, Tenorio 15, Aguilar 14, Caguioa 6, Thompson 6, Marcelo 4, Cruz 2, Devance 2, Mariano 2.
RAIN OR SHINE 87—Chan 19, Cruz 11, Lowhorn 10, Tiu 9, Lee 7, Quinahan 6, Ahanmisi 5, Belga 5, Ponferrada 5, Almaan 5, Trollano 3, Norwood 2, Teng .
Quarters: 25-16, 48-42, 75-71, 101-87