BARANGAY Ginebra stayed right behind second-running Magnolia while sending NorthPort to a 6-6 (win-loss) finish as the Kings clobbered the Batang Pier, 122-105, in a key match in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the PhilSports Arena Sunday.
Behind a strong finishing quarter, the Kings bounced back from an upset by the NLEX Road Warriors the last time out and stayed in the running for a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals with their eighth win against three losses.
Barely ahead at 93-92 after three quarters, Justin Brownlee and his teammates pummeled the Batang Pier, 29-13, in the final canto and thus pulled off the win that sent them to joint third with the Converge FiberXers ahead of their virtual playoff duel Wednesday in the same venue.
A win for Ginebra would give the Kings a chance at salvaging second but also depending on a loss by the Magnolia Hotshots to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the last game of the single-round-robin elims on Friday.
Magnolia claims second spot and joins Bay Area as the teams with a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarters should the Hotshots hurdle the Elasto Painters.
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Meanwhile, NorthPort's bid for a spot in the best-of-three quarterfinals remained in the balance with its defeat in its closing game in the elims.
Their three-game winning streak snapped, Batang Pier skidded to joint sixth with the Phoenix Fuel Masters at 6-6 as San Miguel Beermen gained solo fifth at 6-5.
And breathing down NorthPort's and Phoenix's necks are Rain or Shine at 5-6 and Meralco at 4-6.
The Kings showed great determination to salvage what they can, with Justin Brownlee leading the way with a near triple-double job with 31 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists.
Jamie Malonzo (26 points) and Christian Standhardinger (20 points, 13 boards and seven assists) had solid outings coming off the bench, with Jeremiah Gray also providing push with key minutes in their fourth-quarter breakaway.
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At the half, Japeth Aguilar got recognition for joining the league's 1,000-offensive-rebound club. (SB)
The Scores:
Ginebra 122 - Brownlee 31, Malonzo 26, Standhardinger 20, Gray 12, Thompson 8, J.Aguilar 7, Pringle 7, Mariano 6, Tenorio 3, Pinto 2.
NorthPort 105 - Tolentino 24, Ibeh 23, Bolick 22, Navarro 11, Chan 10, Ferrer 8, Balanza 4, Taha 3, Sumang 0.
Quarters: 27-34, 63-63, 93-92, 122-105
