Kings topple Texters, gain ticket to quarters

Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

5:15 p.m. – Meralco vs Barako Bull

7:30 p.m. – San Mig Coffee vs Alaska

MANILA, Philippines - The ball club that most PBA fans love to watch hung in there, catching the last bus to the PBA Governors Cup playoffs.

Out is the Philippine Cup three-peat champ.

Cheered on by its throng of supporters at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Barangay Ginebra recovered in time after nearly blowing a 21-point spread, hacking out a 110-102 win over Talk n Text to gain the right to challenge top seed Petron Blaze in the quarterfinals.

With Mark Caguioa fouling out and the Texters coming to within three, 98-101, LA Tenorio took charge for the Kings who pulled through and thus completed the quarters cast joining early qualifiers Petron, San Mig Coffee, Meralco, Rain or Shine, Globalport, Barako Bull and Alaska Milk.

Second seed San Mig Coffee and third-ranked Meralco take their first of two cracks at the Final Four as they tangle with No. 7 Alaska Milk and No. 6 Barako Bull, respectively, at the start of the playoffs also at the Big Dome tonight.

The first-seeded Boosters and the fourth-ranked Elasto Painters take their first attempt at making the semis versus the Kings and the Batang Pier, respectively, tomorrow over at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

“I just thought it’s about time for me to take charge when Mark (Caguioa) fouled out,” said Tenorio after bailing the Kings out of trouble and keeping their hopes for back-to-back finals.

“May konting yabang, pero sabi ko kay Mark ako na bahala,” said Tenorio on his chat with Caguioa as the latter headed to their bench.

Tenorio canned in two charities then scored on a daring drive as the Kings eventually broke the back of the Texters, 107-98, with a minute left to play.

The Commissioner’s Cup BPC winner finished with 24 points, 10 assists, six rebounds and three steals while Dior Lowhorn came through with 31 markers and 10 boards.

“All our players stepped up. All were 101 percent with their efforts, energy and intensity,” said coach Ato Agustin.

With an efficient 58.3-percent shooting, the Kings enjoyed a 16-point spread, 57-41, at the half.

Lowhorn went 8-of-11 from the field for 20 points while Tenorio and Caguioa combined for 7-of-12 clip also for 20 markers as the three nearly outscored the entire TnT team in the first 24 minutes of play.

Japeth Aguilar returned from a six-game layoff, joining the starting unit that gave the Kings a strong start.

The 6-foot-9 center/forward didn’t play long, though, limping to the bench after only five minutes of action. He contributed one field goal, one rebound and one block.

The Kings opened a double-digit spread right in the first quarter and ripped the game wide open at the half on a triple by Tenorio off John Ferriols at the buzzer.

Ginebra’s lead grew as big as 21 at 70-49 but Courtney Fells eventually found his touch in the third quarter, helping the TnT back into the game going into the payoff period.

After bleeding for just four points in the first half, Fells erupted for 19 on 5-of-5 three-pointers and 2-of-3 twinners in the third canto.