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| All images from the PBA/Inquirer. |
ALASKA ACES over BARAKO BULL ENERGY, 108-100
Box Scores.
The Alaska Aces earned themselves at least a playoff for one of the two outright semifinal berths after prevailing over Barako Bull, 108-100, in their last assignment of the SMART BRO PBA Philippine Cup’s elimination round on Saturday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
Calvin Abueva posted 22 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 assists while running mate Vic Manuel added 21 points and 7 rebounds to lead Alaska to the crucial win.
They also got contributions from Cyrus Baguio, Sonny Thoss, and RJ Jazul, who all finished with 11 markers.
Alaska wrapped up its campaign tied with San Miguel atop the standings with identical 9-2 records. The Aces hold the winner-over-the-other tiebreaker against the Beermen.
WillIE Wilson led Barako Bull with another huge performance, finishing with 23 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 assists. JC Intal added 15 points and 9 boards, including four three-pointers.
Lines of the Game:
Calvin Abueva (ALA) - 22pts, 13rebs, 3asts, 8/18 FGs
Willie Wilson (BAR) - 23pts, 14rebs, 4asts, 8/20 FGs
HIGHLIGHTS:
NLEX ROAD WARRIORS over RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO-PAINTERS, 111-106
Box Scores.
NLEX’s Sean Anthony scored a career-high 37 points, including his team’s last eight points as the Road Warriors played spoilers against Rain or Shine, 111-106, in a SMART BRO PBA Philippine Cup clash on Saturday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
Anthony scored 13 points in the fourth quarter as he helped NLEX score the huge victory. He shot 13-for-20 from the field and 4-for-6 from three-point range, as well as tallying six rebounds and five assists in a big-time performance.
The game had plenty of ramifications for the race for the top two. A win by Rain or Shine would have given them the No. 1 seed and would have sent them to the semifinals outright, while forcing Alaska and San Miguel to duel in a playoff for the second seed.
As it was, NLEX had other plans, notching a big win that moved it up to seventh place in the standings with a 5-6 record. Rain or Shine (8-3) dropped to No. 3 and will have to go through the quarterfinal round.
Asi Taulava had a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Jonas Villanueva added 14 markers as well.
ROS was paced by Raymond Alamazan’s 10 points and 15 rebounds, while fellow big man Beau Belga also did well with 18 points and 7 boards.
Lines of the Game:
Raymond Almazan (ROS) - 10pts, 15rebs, 1ast, 2stls, 1blk, 4/7 FGs
Sean Anthony (NLX) - 37pts, 6rebs, 5asts, 1stl, 13/20 FGs
HIGHLIGHTS:
BLACKWATER ELITE over MAHINDRA ENFORCERS, 108-99
Box scores.
Veteran point guard Mike Cortez shot his Blackwater team to its first-ever playoff appearance after outdueling Mahindra, 108-99, in a knockout SMART BRO PBA Philippine Cup clash on Sunday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
Cortez scored 30 points, including the last eight for his team, and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Elite to the win, their third in 11 games.
That was enough for them to finish in 10th place, just ahead of their victims Mahindra (2-9), and clinch the last spot in the quarterfinal round.
It was the perfect time for Cortez, who had been struggling shooting the ball for much of the conference, to break out of a slump. He entered the game shooting just 34% from the field and 24% from three-point range.
He went 11-for-18 (61%) in the do-or-die game, shooting 2-for-4 (50%) from long range and making all six of his free throws in a vintage performance.
Reil Cervantes added 24 points, including six three-pointers, while Bam Gamalinda added 16 in the win.
Carlo Lastimosa, who had been having big scoring games of late, finished with 14 points and personal conference-highs of six rebounds and six assists.
Aldrech Ramos led Mahindra with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Digregorio scored 20 points.
Lines of the Game:
Mike Cortez (BLA) - 30pts, 10rebs, 1ast, 2 triples, 11/18 FGs
Aldrech Ramos (MAH) - 22pts, 10rebs, 1ast, 1stl, 3 triples, 8/13 FGs
HIGHLIGHTS:
BGY. GINEBRA GIN KINGS over TALK N TEXT TROPANG TEXTERS, 91-84
Box Scores.
The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings clinched the fourth seed in the SMART BRO PBA Philippine Cup playoffs to set up a Manila Clasico quarterfinal clash on Christmas Day after holding off a late comeback by the TNT Tropang Texters for a 91-84 win on Sunday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
Greg Slaughter posted 27 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 blocks, while Japeth Aguilar added 17 markers and 7 boards in the win.
Sol Mercado added 12 points, while Chris Ellis and Joe Devance both had 8 in the big win.
Ginebra closed their elimination round campaign with six wins in their last seven games, as well as the last three. The Kings (7-4) finished No. 4 and will face the ninth-seeded Star Hotshots (4-7) in the quarterfinal round.
The No. 6 Tropang Texters (6-5) will battle the No. 7 NLEX Road Warriors (5-6) with both Ginebra and TNT holding twice-to-beat advantages.
Troy Rosario led TNT with 22 points, including five three-pointers, and 10 rebounds. Jayson Castro, the Tropang Texters’ star point guard, finished with just 13 points on 5-for-17 (29%) shooting in the game.
Lines of the Game:
Greg Slaughter (GIN) - 27pts, 14rebs, 3blks, 2asts, 12/19 FGs
Troy Rosario (TNT) - 22pts, 10rebs, 2asts, 5 triples.
HIGHLIGHTS:
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