Saudi Gazette MANILA — Despite another monster game from Greg Slaughter, the Barangay Ginebra Kings needed two overtime periods to finally put away the upset-conscious Blackwater Elite, 102-94, in an out-of-town PBA Philippine Cup game in Angeles City, Pampanga. Their fifth win in nine outings assured the Kings of a quarterfinals spot with only two games left in their schedule. Ginebra is now at solo sixth place in the standings behind Talk N Text (4-3). Blackwater tumbled to its seventh loss in eight games to stay 11th, just a game ahead of tailender Meralco (1-8). Slaughter posted a huge double-double of 35 points and 15 rebounds, shooting a high 71 percent (15-of-21) from the field. He also had four assists. Slaughter's frontcourt partner Japeth Aguilar also dished out his A-game, finishing with 25 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. But it was the backcourt duo of LA Tenorio and rookie Scottie Thompson who starred for the Kings in the end game as they each fired a three-pointer late in the second overtime period to finally break free from the pesky Elite. With the game tied at 94-all in the second extra period, Tenorio got the ball to Slaughter at the post. As the Blackwater defense collapsed on Slaughter, the seven-foot center passed the ball back to Ginebra's starting point guard who banged in a shot from behind the three-point arc. Thompson followed this up with a huge three-pointer from the left corner, giving Ginebra a six-point lead, 100-94, with about a minute. The Kings then clamped down on defense, preventing the Elite from catching up. Fighting for survival, the lowly Elite gave the highly rated Kings a tough fight, even leading at the half, 46-42, after a 10-0 run led by rookie Art Dela Cruz. Slaughter and Aguilar asserted their strength in the paint in the third quarter as the Kings ignited an 11-0 run to take a 54-48 lead. Ginebra's twin towers combined for 19 of Ginebra's 23 points in the third period as the Kings took a 65-61 lead going into the final frame. Slaughter stayed hot in the fourth quarter, scoring 15 huge points. Blackwater kept the game close, however, as Reil Cervantes suddenly found his shooting touch, firing 13 points in the final period after going scoreless in the first three quarters. The Elite managed to force the first extension after Bam Gamalinda and Jason Ballesteros delivered to key baskets that forced an 84-all deadlock with 45 seconds left in regulation. Slaughter and Aguilar once again took matters into their own hands in the first period, scoring all of Ginebra's eight points. But still Blackwater managed to force an extra period with the sniping of guards Mike Cortez and Jerick Canada. The back-to-back three-pointers from Tenorio and Thompson in the second overtime finally proved too much for Blackwater as the hundreds of Ginebra fans in the coliseum erupted in deafening cheers. Games Sunday: Star Hotshots (2-6) vs. Mahindra Enforcers (2-6); and Talk N Text Tropang Texters (4-3) vs. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (6-1).
