Mahindra makes history with first-ever PBA playoff appearance

Game Saturday (Legazpi City)

5 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs Globalport

MANILA, Philippines – The Mahindra Enforcers are now heading to a first-ever PBA playoff appearance in franchise history. They may even get there with a twice-to-beat advantage.

James White and his teammates held their ground against the previously unbeaten TNT KaTropa side, hacking out a 107-104 win to secure an outright spot in the PBA Governors Cup Final Eight at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday night.

White came through with 24 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals, KG Canaleta fired away two three-pointers and a total of 13 markers while guards LA Revilla, Paolo Taha and Michael DiGregorio combined for 38 points as Mahindra made a major breakthrough with a sixth win in seven starts in the season-ending tourney.

“It’s a new ground for us. We’re very happy for the franchise as we’d never won six games in a conference before,” said Mahindra coach Chris Gavina.

“We’re moving in the right direction. But we want to stay level headed, not too high and not too low. We want to stay consistent on what we’re doing day to day,” Gavina also said.

The Enforcers broke free from a three-way logjam at second place with the Barangay Ginebra Kings and the San Miguel Beermen and moved within striking distance of the Texters (6-1).

Their goal is to finish at the Top Four for a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals.

White, Canaleta, Taha, Revilla and DiGregorio carried much of the load for the Enforcers, negating Jason Castro’s 33-point explosion for the Texters.

Canaleta and Revilla knocked in back-to-back treys, sparking an 11-5 exchange that won it for the Enforcers.

“The willingness to play with another and unselfishness of the guys kicked in. It’s about sheer determination,” said Gavina.

From 19-23 down at the start of the second period, the Enforcers zoomed to a 51-44 lead at the half and hung tough all the way to stop the Texters on their tracks.

Before this game, the Texters swept their first six games versus Rain or Shine, Meralco, Alaska, NLEX, Blackwater and Phoenix. 

Meanwhile, on-and-off Rain or Shine and a resurgent Globalport squad square off in a Petron Blaze Saturday Special in Legazpi, Albay tonight, both determined lift up their playoff chances.

The Elasto Painters and the Batang Pier are barely in the middle of the chart as they set out for their battle at 5 p.m. at the Ibalong Centrum.

Coach Yeng Guiao and his troops have slid to sixth place with two losses in their last three games. The Batang Pier, meanwhile, have gained some inroads following back-to-back wins after a woeful 0-4 conference start.

Earlier, the Batang Pier outlasted the Meralco Bolts, 126-123, in a double-overtime grind, then pulled a big upset with a 98-92 drubbing of the defending champion San Miguel Beermen.