Kings bring down Bolts, eye No. 2

MANILA, Philippines – Barangay Ginebra fought with a tremendous sense of urgency and clobbered the pacesetting Meralco squad, 103-90, to keep its wafer-thin hope of salvaging No. 2 spot in the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup eliminations at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

The Gin Kings made a strong finishing kick in the elims with dominant triumphs over elite teams the San Miguel Beermen and the Bolts, and wound up with a 7-4 win-loss slate, assuring themselves of at least a berth in the best-of-three quarterfinals.

But the Kings can even salvage a playoff crack at No. 2 spot – and its reward of a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals –  in case of a win by Tropang TNT over San Miguel Beer coupled by a victory by NLEX over Alaska Milk Friday.

In that eventuality, TNT, Ginebra, San Miguel and Rain or Shine end up with identical 7-4 slates. And in such a case, the Texters and the Kings meet in a playoff for No. 2 on superior quotients.

Marking Ginebra’s key win was a personal milestone by Mark Caguioa who tied Arnie Tuadles at No. 18 in the all-time scoring ladder with 9,430 points.

With an 8-3 closing mark, the Bolts are winding up first or second. Whichever, they’re assured of the coveted advantage in the quarters – a first in franchise history.

In the first game, Mark Barroca dished out a solid game playing with one eye shut while Mark Cruz flashed the brilliance that made him the toast in the last NCAA season as the Star Hotshots demolished the Mahindra Enforcers, 86-73, to clinch the last quarterfinals berth.