Texters turn back Aces

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With a whirlwind finish to a high-scoring game, TNT KaTropa rallied to put Alaska away, 119-110, and stay in the upper half of the playoff draw of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup while pushing the Aces’ backs to the wall at Ibalong Centrum for Recreation gym in Legazpi City.

Jason Castro and new import Joshua Smith kept the Texters within striking distance before Ranidel de Ocampo finished off the Aces in the stretch of the Petron Saturday Special match as TNT rose to 7-3.

The win also allowed the Texters to stay mathematically in the hunt for a top two finish—and a twice-to-beat privilege—but more importantly, it assured them of avoiding a bottom tier finish that would put them at a great disadvantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Alaska led by as many as 13 points in the third and had a 105-101 lead before De Ocampo caught fire. The Aces slid to a third straight defeat in a 4-4 card.

The Aces now must sweep their final three games to earn a level playing field in the quarterfinals.

Smith, a wide body tapped to replace the prolific Donte Greene, had 23 points and 10 rebounds in a debut limited to just over 20 minutes because of foul trouble.

Castro finished with 20 with fellow national RR Pogoy shooting 12.

Corey Jefferson scattered 29 points in leading the Aces.

Meanwhile, powerhouse San Miguel Beer tries to move closer to No. 1 ranking when the Beermen battle Barangay Ginebra Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Coming off an easy win over NLEX just two nights before, the Beermen are tipped as the logical picks in the 6:45 p.m. contest, which the Gin Kings desperately need to win in order to stay in the top two race.

Ginebra is at 5-2 after collapsing in the endgame against defending champion Rain or Shine also on Friday.

In the first game, Phoenix Petroleum plays executioner to Mahindra at 4:30 p.m.