PBA: Ginebra seals twice-to-beat bonus, fends off NLEX

Ginebra import Tony Bishop in a PBA out of town game. –PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines–Barangay Ginebra secured the remaining twice-to-beat slot in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals after hurdling the determined challenge of NLEX, 103-99, before a packed crowd Saturday night in Legazpi City, Albay.

Import Tony Bishop beat the shot clock with a rainbow shot, barely a minute to play in the contest, that foiled the Road Warriors’ upset bid inside Ibalong Centrum for Recreation and ended the eliminations with an 8-3 record.

The victory was enough for Ginebra to gain a top four finish and the all-important bonus going into the next phase of the import-laden conference.

Ginebra’s opponent will be known after the outcome of Phoenix’s game against TNT Sunday at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

READ: Tim Cone admits Ginebra fate not completely in its hands

Ginebra will be seeded third and will face sixth-ranked NorthPort with a Phoenix loss. Otherwise, the crowd favorites are going to be placed fourth against fifth place Meralco.

Meralco likewise ended up at 8-3, but lost out on the tiebreaker due to an inferior quotient.

NLEX finished the elims with a 4-7 record, and will also have to rely on the result of the Phoenix-TNT match to possibly play a one-game decider for the eighth and last quarters berth.

TNT has a 4-6 record going into the final match of the elimination phase.

Bishop had 27 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and two blocks as Ginebra won despite trailing by 11 in the third.

Import DeAndre Williams-Baldwin finished with 27 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and three steals but he and rookies Enoch Valdez and Jhan Nermal couldn’t complete the job for the Road Warriors.

Ginebra vs NLEX scores

GINEBRA 103—Bishop 27, Standhardinger 18, Malonzo 16, Ahanmisi 13, Pringle 13, J.Aguilar 6, Thompson 4, Pinto 3, Pessumal 3, Tenorio 0.

NLEX 99—Williams-Baldwin 27, Valdez 17, Nermal 15, Semerad 14, Anthony 12, Bolick 8, Rodger 4, Miranda 0.

Quarters: 31-23, 53-54, 77-82, 103-99.