LA shines as Kings rap Aces

MANILA, Philippines - LA Tenorio broke out of a personal slump, providing Barangay Ginebra the needed spark and firepower as the Gin Kings turned back the Alaska Milk Aces, 101-92, to inch closer to a Top Six finish in the PBA Philippine Cup elimination round at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City last night.

Struggling as of late, Tenorio struck with 22 points, four assists, two rebounds and one steal as the Gin Kings snapped a three-game losing streak and gained solo fifth place with a 6-4 win-loss card.

However, the Kings still need to beat the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in their final game to seal a place in the Top Six and secure a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.

“They (the E-Painters) are complete. They’ve been together for so long and peaking at the right time. That’s scary,” said Ginebra coach Jeff Cariaso. “But we’ll be aggressive and hungry. And hopefully, we come out with the same attitude we had in this game.”

Mac Baracael, Japeth Aguilar, Greg Slaughter and Joseph Yeo also came through with solid performances as Ginebra stopped Alaska and relegated the Aces to second place at 8-2.

And like Ginebra, Alaska will have to pass through Rain or Shine to salvage a Top Two finish and an outright semifinal berth.

Entering the final week of the elims, San Miguel is solo leader at 8-1, followed by Alaska at 8-2, Rain or Shine at 7-2 and Talk n Text at 6-3.

The TnT Tropang Texters try to formalize a spot in the Top Six in taking on the Purefoods Star Hotshots in a key match at 7 p.m. tonight at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.  

Earlier, Barako Bull, bracing up for the playoffs, foiled NLEX’s own bid and, in the process, allowed Manny Pacquiao and his Kia team to remain in the hunt for a quarterfinal berth with a 92-87 victory over the Road Warriors.

Sophomore guard RR Garcia scored a career-best 22 points with four other Barako players adding double-digit outputs as they repulsed the Road Warriors to stay on the run nearing the post-elims play of the all-Filipino tourney.

NOTES: Vergel Meneses, Johnny Abarrientos and Jojo Lastimosa are expected to lead the next batch of honorees to the PBA Hall of Fame. Held every two years since it was instituted in 2005, the blue-ribbon affair has honored 18 celebrated players, the latest being the trio of Benjie Paras, Ronnie Magsanoc and Lim Eng Beng in 2013. Meneses, Abarrientos and Lastimosa, among the league’s 25 PBA greatest named in 2000, could well be next.