Shell overtakes Ginebra

Isaac Spencer dished out his most productive performance for Barangay Ginebra last night but blew away a potential game-tying play in the closing seconds, allowing Shell to escape with a 72-71 win that bolstered the Turbochargers’ bid for the Samsung PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals at the Philsports Arena.

The Kings were three points away from completely wiping out the Turbochargers’ nine-point lead entering the final two minutes of play when Spencer committed a booboo with time down to 20 seconds, forcing his way against a three-man Ginebra defense, thus, hardly getting a good look at the basket in taking the crucial shot.

The Turbochargers controlled the rebound and, fouled right away by Mark Caguioa, Tony dela Cruz clinched the win with a charity in the final 12.9 seconds of play.

The Kings trimmed the gap to what it was in the end as Jun Limpot hit a desperation three-pointer with four ticks left in the clock.

Practically everybody in the venue thought that would have been the right move for Spencer earlier, finding an open teammate from the outside while being ganged-up underneath the basket with the Kings trailing by three at 68-71.

Bal David, Mark Caguioa and Limpot had positioned themselves behind the arc when Spencer took the harried shot.

With Spencer’s attempt going awry, the Turbochargers clinched their fourth win against the same number of losses.

Tying Talk N Text at sixth place, Shell needs only one more win in its last two games against Sta. Lucia and Purefoods to gain outright entry into the quarterfinals.

The Kings practically kissed the quarterfinals bid goodbye as they suffered their seventh loss against only two wins. They must win their last game against the Express and hope only nine teams reach the four-win mark to gain a playoff shot at the last quarterfinal seat.

Ironically, Spencer became Ginebra’s goat in the game where he had his best numbers with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Shell ripped the game apart at 71-62 entering t he last two minutes of play on a 10-2 run made by Chris Calaguio, Johnny Jackson, Dale Singson and George Banks in a four-minute stretch.