A former amateur boxer, Sloan hit seven of his 12 second quarter points in a 17-0 run that erased a four-point Ginebra deficit and pushed the Gin Kings ahead to stay, 43-30, and into their fifth win in eight elimination round games.
Mark Caguioa then scored eight fourth quarter points and led a strong Ginebra stand in the period to quell numerous uprisings by the Elasto Painters, his last basket coming at the final 43-second mark putting the game to bed, 96-90.
“It could have been better,” Ginebra coach Jong Uichico said of his team’s position at the moment, a game off the pace being set by Grand Slam-seeking Talk ‘N Text and tied with idle Petron and Alaska.
“But we will take it,” he continued as he bared the his import Sloan still has a lot of improving to do, especially on the chemistry side of things with his teammates.
“We will work on something (in our four-day break) and give Sloan more time to be accustomed to our system, (and) players for better chemistry.”
Caguioa finished with 13 points like Eric Menk even as Arizona Reid led the Painters with 29, including 14 in the third period where Rain or Shine tried to chip away at that 13-point deficit.
Meanwhile, Powerade went out with a bang earlier in the night after an 86-81 victory over also-ran Meralco.
Gary David scored 17 points and Chris Porter had 15 that went with 16 boards as the Tigers closed out their year with a 4-4 record in the tournament and 9-22 for the year.
“It’s good that we got through today’s game, because we were able to get close to (Talk ‘N Text),” Uichico said. “From now on, it will be no-tomorrow games for everyone.”
The semifinals starts tomorrow with the Tropang Texters slugging it out with Alaska and B-Meg clashing with Rain or Shine also at the Big Dome.
The scores:
First Game
POWERADE 86—David 17, Porter 15, Lanete 14, Espino 10, Reyes R. 7, Antonio 7, Reyes J. 5, Cruz 5, Quinahan 2, Macapagal 2, Laure 2, Allera 0.
MERALCO 81—Oguchi 27, Mercado 20, Cardona 13, Isip 6, Hugnatan 6, Aljamal 3, Menor 2, Espinas 2, Taulava 2, Weinstein 0, Omolon 0, Ritualo 0.
Quarters: 15-16, 39-32, 64-61, 86-81
Second Game
BARANGAY GINEBRA 98—Sloan 32, Caguioa 13, Menk 13, Tubid 9, Cortez 8, Wilson J. 8, Wilson W. 5, Intal 4 , Helterbrand 4 , Mamaril 2, Canaleta 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 90—Reid 29, Buenafe 20, Chan 12, Cruz 8, Norwood 7, Belga 5, Vanlandingham 3, Jazul 3, Rodriguez 2 , Tang 1, Arana 0, Ibanes 0.
Quarters: 26-27, 51-41, 67-63, 98-90.