Texters halt Enforcers, climb to joint third

MANILA, Philippines – David Simon limped to the sideline with a calf strain with over six minutes left to play but Tropang TNT played tough to the finish, hurdling Mahindra, 83-78, to stay in the running for a Top Two windup in the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum in Palawan last night.

Guards Dylan Ababou, Jai Reyes and Jason Castro delivered the firepower and the whole TNT squad worked resolutely on the defensive end as the Texters held the Enforcers scoreless in the last 3:25 of play of this Petron Blaze Saturday Special.

The Texters notched a fourth straight win and moved up to joint third place with the Alaska Milk Aces, the Barangay Ginebra Kings and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at 6-4, just half game behind the second-running San Miguel Beermen (6-3).

TNT and San Miguel clash in a duel of champions at the close of the elimination round on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“We didn’t play well. We didn’t have the energy. But we’re able to grind it out. We’re able to keep our composure and discipline. We stayed together and kept grinding it out,” said TNT coach Jong Uichico.

Meanwhile, San Miguel presses its own drive for the Top Two and a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals while Rain or Shine pursues a spot in the Top Six as they tackle separate foes at the Big Dome tonight.

Merely looking for an upset and a graceful exit in the mid-season tourney are Phoenix Petroleum and Blackwater.

The Elasto Painters and the Elite face off at 3 p.m. then the Beermen and the Fuel Masters square off at 5:15 p.m. in the third to the last play date of the elimination round.

Ababou, Reyes and Castro came through with big buckets coming off the bench in the final period as they propelled the Texters to the key win that assured the team of at least a Top Six finish.

Ababou drained three triples, Reyes had one big trey while Castro nailed back-to-back drive-in baskets that fended off Mahindra’s challenge down the stretch.

With the loss, the Enforcers fell to joint eighth place with the Star Hotshots at 4-6. The two teams dispute the last berth in the Final Eight in a virtual knockout setto on Wednesday.

San Miguel takes a shot at an outright playoff crack at No. 2 spot as the reigning two-conference champs tackle the Phoenix Fuel Masters. That’s what the Beermen are looking at versus the Fuel Masters although the ultimate goal is to sweep their last two games in the elims for a chance at No. 1 spot and a matchup with the No. 8 team in the quarterfinal round.