Game recap (adapted from Interaksyon):
KIA CARNIVAL over MERALCO BOLTS, 88-85
Box scores.
The Kia Carnival kept their hopes for a first-ever playoff appearance alive after escaping Meralco with an all-important 88-85 victory on Wednesday at the SMART-araneta Coliseum.
The Carnival made a terrific stand in the fourth quarter, coming back from a six-point deficit before getting some big stops and making some free throws in the endgame for the win.
Import Hamady N’Diaye finished with 24 points, 19 rebounds, and 6 blocks, while point guard LA Revilla added 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists for Kia, which finished the Govenors’ Cup elimination round tied with Meralco and Talk ‘N Text at 5-6.
Unfortunately, they were unable to get the necessary margin of 17 points to enter the quarterfinals outright. They must wait for the result of the second game between Baragay Ginebra and NLEX.
A win by Ginebra would force a four-way tie and send the Kings through to the quarters.
Line of the Game: Andre Emmett (MER) - 35pts, 14rebs, 4asts, 1stl.
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| Andre Emmett and the Bolts failed to help sister team Talk N Text after the Carnival beat them in this tight affair. |
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| Hamady N'Diaye came up big anew as Kia ended its elims on a high note. |
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| LA Revilla was adjudged Best Player of the Game after coming up big in the most crucial moments. |
BGY. GINEBRA GIN KINGS over NLEX ROAD WARRIORS, 110-107
Box scores.
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel caught a huge break in the opening game and Japeth Aguilar wasn’t about to let the chance to enter the quarterfinals slip from their fingertips, knocking down a game-winning three-pointer in the dying seconds to seal a 110-107 win that clinched the No. 8 seed for the Kings on Wednesday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
LA Tenorio and Orlando Johnson each had 21 points and 6 assists to lead Ginebra.
The Kings, as a team, knocked down 14 three pointers. Tenorio went 5-for-10 to pace the team, while Korean import Kim Ji-Wan knocked down four of his own. Johnson, Sol Mercado, and Emman Monfort also connected from beyond the arc.
None of those were bigger, though, than Aguilar’s trey in the end.
Ginebra had fought its way back from an 11-point deficit from earlier in the fourth quarter. They took the lead on a triple from Kim near the last two-minute mark.
NLEX’s Asi Taulava, though, tied the game, 107-all, with 16 seconds remaining but Aguilar made sure the game wasn’t going to extra time with a clutch three in the endgame.
Kim finished with 16 points, while Greg Slaughter posted 14 points and 8 rebounds.
Ginebra ended the conference in a four-way tie with Meralco, Talk ‘N Text, and Kia at 5-6 but will qualify for the playoffs alongside the Bolts due to their superior quotient. Kia did Ginebra a favor in the early game, beating Meralco to keep both their and the Kings’ chances alive.
The Kings will face No. 1 seed Alaska in a series where the Aces will hold a twice-to-beat advantage.
Syrian import Michel Madanly paced NLEX with 36 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists, shooting 14/24 from the field. Asi Taulava added 18 points, while Kwame Alexander tallied a dozen markers and 15 boards.
Line of the Game: Michel Madanly (NLX) - 36pts, 5rebs, 4asts, 2 triples, 14/24 FGs.
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| Japeth Aguilar came up HUGE in the dying seconds for Ginebra. |
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| Asi Taulava tries a hook shot over Greg Slaughter. |
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| Kim Ji-Wan also came up big for Ginebra, sparking a second half run that trimmed the deficit. |
Images from the PBA.
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