Barangay Ginebra squandered an initial huge lead but made another big separation in the fourth quarter and eventually left Columbian Dyip in the dust in a 113-90 rout that guaranteed the Kings of a Top Four finish in the PBA Governors' Cup eliminations at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday night.
The Kings blew away a 19-point spread and even fell behind late in the third period before gathering steam again and going on to nail victory No. 7 that ensured them of a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals.
And it's now all about final placing in the quarterfinals for the Gin Kings as they tangle with the NorthPort Batang Pier Sunday also at the Big Dome.
Jeff Chan recalled his shooting form and teamed up with Art dela Cruz and Justin Brownlee as the Kings pulled away for good early in the fourth and, thus, foiled the Dyip's shot at solo seventh place.
With their third straight loss, Columbian, instead, dropped to ninth place with a closing 4-7 win-loss card.
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The Dyip would still get a shot at the playoffs if either NorthPort (4-6) or Alaska Milk (4-6) - or both lose their last outings.
It's NorthPort versus Ginebra at 6:45 p.m. Sunday and Alaska opposite NLEX at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday over at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.
"Ang mindset namin kailangan manalo para makuha ang twice-to-beat. At going to the quarters, gusto namin galing kami sa panalo," said Chan, the main sparkplug in their 31-12 salvo in the fourth.
"Medyo matagal-tagal ko na rin hinintay na maka-shoot uli at maka-contribute," said Chan on his 20-point explosion laced with 4-of-6 three-pointers.
Dela Cruz was also a key contributor in the fourth period and wound up with 16 markers plus two rebounds and one steal.
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Before touching off Ginebra's fourth-quarter breakaway, the Kings saw their 19-point lead vanish on the Dyip's big third-quarter siege.
Columbian drew even at 70 on a power move by Kapri Alston off Japeth Aguilar, then momentarily seized the upper hand before the Kings regained the lead at 82-78 through the first three quarters.
And as Chan and Dela Cruz stepped on the gas in the fourth, the Dyip couldn't keep up as they seemed to have spent their energy in their third-quarter rally.
Brownlee came through with 26 points, nine rebounds and the same number of assists in another sterling all-around game while Aguilar had a double-double with 19 markers and 10 boards.
Stanley Pringle chipped in 20 points, LA Tenorio added 14 assists and Scottie Thompson had 10 dish-offs for Ginebra while Alston erupted for 34 points and 22 rebounds for the losing team.(SB)
The scores:
Ginebra 113 - Brownlee 26, Pringle 20, Chan 20, Aguilar 19, Dela Cruz 16, Thompson 4, Caperal 4, Tenorio 2, Mariano 2, Dillinger 0, Sargent 0, Teodoro 0, Aguilar R. 0, Devance 0, Caguioa 0.
Columbian 90 - Alston 34, Perez 19, McCarthy 12, Tiongson 11, Camson 6, Corpuz 4, Gabriel 2, Agovida 2, Reyes 0, Cahilig 0, Khobuntin 0, Celda 0,
Quarterscores: 28-18, 58-44, 82-78, 113-90.
