Explosive race for top 4 PBA slots

An avalanche of three-pointers resumed the eliminations of the PBA Governors’ Cup last week in a big turnaround for Filipino shooters following the woeful showing of the national team from the long court in the fourth window of the Fiba World Cup Asian qualifiers.

Failing to match the outside shooting of Iran in their initial meeting in Tehran, the Nationals absorbed an 81-73 beating from the Asian Games’ runner-up last Sept. 13. But the Filipinos bounced back against Qatar four days later in a closed-door game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and won, 92-81, with a determined all-around offensive after trailing by 17 points in the second quarter.

With Gilas holding on to No. 3 with a 5-3 win-loss record behind Australia (7-1) and Iran (6-2) as the top prospects to advance to the World Cup in China so far next year with two more qualifying windows to go, the Nationals rejoined their respective squads in what is now shaping up as an explosive race for the top four slots and the twice-to-beat bonus in the quarterfinals.

San Miguel Beer set the tone for the sizzling resumption of play by matching the league record for most treys in a game with 23 in a 143-119 rout of winless Columbian Dyip. Arwind Santos hit seven treys to finish with 29 points and Marcio Lassiter was one short with six to wind up with 28 as the Beermen atoned for their 103-100 loss to the Blackwater Elite.

Showing their conquest of the Beermen just before the league took a break for the Asian Games was no fluke, the Elite downed Barangay Ginebra in overtime using the same long-range fire SMB earlier used against Columbian.

Mike Digregorio forced overtime at 100-all with a trey and the Elite added four more triples in the extra period to seal the 124-118 win that boosted Blackwater to a team-record four straight wins and the solo lead.

The TNT Katropa and Rain or Shine waged another three-point shootout in their out-of-town clash in Passi City in Iloilo Saturday with the Texters outgunning the Elasto Painters, 16-11, to prevail 110-104. It was the first game for TNT coach Bong Ravena, who replaced Nash Racela. Mark Dickel of New Zealand also debuted as TNT coaching consultant but behaved like he was the chief mentor himself.