BARANGAY Ginebra escaped Christmas blushes and advanced its cause in the PBA Commissioner's Cup with an 86-78 decision over a hard-fighting import-less TNT team at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Scottie Thompson, in his second game in his return from injury, bombed away crucial three-pointers at the finish and the Kings overcame the Tropang Giga who put up a tough, tough challenge even in the absence of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and ace guard Jayson Castro.
Back-to-back treys by Thompson from a 79-76 count eventually put the game away en route to a crucial Yuletide triumph for the Kings.
The titleholders stayed in equal footing with the San Miguel Beermen at 6-3, now just half-game behind the third-running Meralco Bolts (6-2) and a game adrift No. 2 Phoenix (7-2).
With win No. 6, coach Tim Cone and his troops have secured a spot in the post-elims play.
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But they are expected to press forward in pursuit of a Top 4 finish and a twice-to-beat bonus in the quarters as they play their last two games in the elims versus NorthPort on Jan. 7 and NLEX on Jan. 13.
The Kings boosted their aspiration with back-to-back triumphs scored on the return of Thompson.
Saving his best for last, Thompson seized the moment at winning time with dagger treys that capped his 12-7-7 (points-rebounds-assists) statsline.
Christian Standhardinger (22-10-6) and Tony Bishop (15-12-6) had their solid all-around numbers, picking up the slack with Maverick Ahanmisi limited to 11 points in this game.
Japeth Aguilar was a fifth Ginebra player finishing in double figures with 11, but the Kings were still pushed to the wall by the TNT side which drew a huge lift from Calvin Oftana's explosive 27-point outing.
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Also drawing boosts from Glenn Khobuntin (13) and Jewel Ponferrada (14), the Tropang Giga started strong and were still in control, 65-59, at the start of the fourth quarter.
The Tropang Giga opened with a 9-0 run, with Ginebra able to score a first basket through Jamie Malonzo with already two minutes and 30 seconds into the game.
In the end, the Kings pulled it off, though, on another never-say-die effort. (SB)
The scores:
Ginebra 86 - Standhardinger 22, Bishop 15, Thompson 12, J. Aguilar 11, Ahanmisi 11, Malonzo 7, Pringle 6, Tenorio 2, David 0, Onwubere 0.
TNT 78 - Oftana 27, Ponferrada 14, Khobuntin 13, K.Williams 7, Aurin 6, Montalbo 5, Galinato 4, Ganuelas-Rosser 2, Cruz 0, Tolomia 0, Reyes 0.
Quarters: 13-21, 37-37, 59-65, 86-78
