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| (images from the PBA/Inquirer) |
The race for the quarterfinals of the 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup intensified this weekend with big wins from TNT, SMB, and ROS, all of whom booked their tickets to the next round.
Game Capsules (adapted from Interaksyon):
TROPANG TNT over MAHINDRA ENFORCERS, 83-78
Box Scores.
Tropang TNT clinched a spot in the quarterfinals after defeating the Mahindra Enforcers, 83-78, in the OPPO PBA Commissioner’s Cup Saturday in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
Jai Reyes top-scored for Tropang TNT with 12 points on four out of seven triples.
Ryan Reyes and Jayson Castro each had 11, while David Simon collected 10 points and 14 boards as they improved to 6-4, tying three other teams in the team standings.
TNT actually still has a chance to snatch one of the two remaining twice-to-beat incentives should the cards fall in their favor.
San Miguel, which sports a 6-3 slate, Alaska, Rain or Shine, and Ginebra, three teams joining TNT in the logjam, all have a shot at that coveted ticket.
TNT’s win also formalized the entry of NLEX as the seventh team assured of a quarterfinal ticket. That leaves only two teams fighting for the final playoff berth.
The Enforcers, led by Augustus Gilchrist’s 21 points and 14 boards, fell to 4-6.
They will be fighting for their tournament lives when they take on Star, which also has a 4-6 card, on Wednesday for the No.8 spot.
Lines of the Game:
David Simon (TNT) - 10pts, 14rebs, 3stls, 3blks.
Augustus Gilchrist (MAH) - 21pts, 14rebs, 3blks, 1ast.
HIGHLIGHTS:
RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO-PAINTERS over BLACKWATER ELITE, 118-107
Box Scores.
The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, parading a new import, took care of business against the eliminated Blackwater Elite, 118-107, to improve its playoff positioning in the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
JR Quinahan scored a team-high 15 points to pace Rain or Shine, while Jeff Chan had 12 markers – seven of those in the fourth quarter. Debuting import Pierre Henderson-Niles also had 12 points alongside six rebounds in his debut game but was unable to finish the contest after limping out with 2:12 remaining.
The Elasto Painters showed plenty of balance on offense with Raymond Almazan posting a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, Jewel Ponferada adding 11 points, and Jeric Teng chipping in with 10 markers in a starting role.
Rain or Shine, which entered the game in a four-way tie with Alaska, Barangay Ginebra and Tropang TNT, moved up to solo third with a 7-4 record. Blackwater, already out of the playoff race, fell to 3-8.
Carlo Lastimosa and JP Erram paced the Elite with 27 and 20 points respectively, while MJ Rhett recorded 19 points and 14 boards.
Lines of the Game:
Carlo Lastimosa (BLA) - 27pts, 9asts, 4rebs, 1stl.
JR Quiñahan (ROS) - 15pts, 6rebs, 3stls, 7/11 FGs.
HIGHLIGHTS:
SAN MIGUEL BEERMEN over PHOENIX FUEL MASTERS, 121-109
Box Scores.
San Miguel moved a step closer to securing one of the twice-to-beat incentives in the quarterfinal round after the Beermen ripped the Phoenix Fuel Masters, 121-109, in the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
High-scoring import Tyler Wilkerson led the way with 40 points and 19 rebounds, while Alex Cabagnot contributed 16.
It was the seventh win in 10 games for SMB, which solidified its hold on solo second spot, though they still need to win their last game to clinch the position.
The Fuel Masters led by as many as 19 points, 25-6, after a sizzling start to the contest, but the Beermen played with a sense of urgency and slowly crept their way back into the game.
San Miguel can still be dragged into a tie for 2nd place with Rain or Shine (7-4) still in contention.
SMB’s newest signing, Gary David, checked in at the last two-minute mark of the game and scored on a scoop shot.
Kevin Pinkney paced Phoenix in this firefight with 38 points, 11 rebounds, 2 triples.
Lines of the Game:
Kevin Pinkney (PHX) - 38pts, 11rebs, 1ast, 1stl, 14/24 FGs.
Tyker Wilkerson (SMB) - 40pts, 19rebs, 4asts, 3stls, 2blks
HIGHLIGHTS:
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