Texters sink Kings; Beermen twit Elite

MANILA, Philippines – TNT KaTropa outworked and outmaneuvered Barangay Ginebra to pull off a 104-92 victory that completed its dominant run for top honors in the PBA Governors Cup elimination round at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna last night.

Mychal Ammons and Jason Castro churned out double-double numbers while Michael Madanly and Larry Fonacier put in superb efforts in a remarkable TNT game that rewarded the Texters top ranking in the coming playoffs.

With a lone defeat at the hands of the Mahindra Enforcers, the Texters finished the elims’ as topnotchers, two games clear of the San Miguel Beermen and the Ginebra Kings at 8-3.

Earlier in the night, the Beermen banked on crucial three-pointers by Arwind Santos and Alex Cabagnot at endgame to thwart the Blackwater Elite, 107-101.

Santos and Cabagnot banged in treys each time the Elite came within striking distance in the last three minutes, and the Beermen subsequently pulled through and later grabbed second seeding in the playoffs following the Kings’ loss to the Texters.

As the top seed, TNT plays in the quarterfinals the winner in the Rain or Shine-Phoenix Petroleum playoff match on Wednesday at the Big Dome.

San Miguel and Ginebra, meanwhile, will be up against No. 7 NLEX and No. 6 Alaska Milk, respectively.

The Meralco Bolts and the Mahindra Enforcers will figure in a virtual best-of-three showdown in their own quarters matchup. They first meet in a playoff on Wednesday to determine who will be No. 4 (with the twice-to-beat advantage) and the No. 5.

Ammons exploded for 24 points and 16 rebounds while Castro frolicked with 19 markers and 10 assists as they keyed TNT’s drubbing of Ginebra.

Madanly and Fonacier also carried some of the burden with a combined  32-point output in TNT’s second half breakaway.

“We just hoped for the best to maintain momentum,” said TNT coach Jong Uichico.

Earlier, Blackwater failed to salvage a triumphant farewell appearance, winding up with a woeful 1-10 card in the Governors Cup and a 7-27 record in the 2015-16 PBA season.