MANILA —The Tropang TNT Texters barged into the quarterfinal round after hacking out an 83-78 victory over the hard-fighting Mahindra Enforcers Saturday in a PBA Commissioner's Cup road game in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Their fourth straight win allowed the Texters to forge a three-way tie for third to sixth place together with Alaska, Ginebra, and Rain or Shine, all carrying an identical 6-4 win-loss slate. Meralco remains on top with an 8-2 while San Miguel Beer is at second with a 6-3 mark. The Bolts are already guaranteed a top 2 finish with the twice-to-beat incentive. Mahindra suffered its sixth loss in 10 games. Its final elimination round assignment would be against the Star Hotshots on Wednesday, where the winner gets the eighth and last spot in the quarterfinal. Their offense sputtering, the Texters had to resort to their stifling defense in the endgame to grind out a win. Guard Jai Reyes was the surprise top scorer for TNT, finishing with 12 points coming from four three-pointers. Jayson Castro did not start the game but finished with 11 markers, including four of the Texters' last five points. The Gilas Pilipinas veteran, considered as one of Asia's best guards, also churned in seven assists, five rebounds, and a block. Ryan Reyes added 11 points, four boards, and three assists. Import David Simon posted 10 points, 14 rebounds, three steals, and three blocks, one on Mahindra counterpart Augustus Gilchrist with less than a minute left that preserved TNT's lead. Dylan Ababou added nine points on three triples all in the fourth quarter. Gilchrist paced the Enforcers with 21 points and 14 rebounds, while Karl Dehesa went 4-of-6 for 12 markers in the defeat. LA Revilla added 11 points. Games Sunday: Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (6-4) vs. Blackwater Elite (3-7) and San Miguel Beermen (6-3) vs. Phoenix Fuel Masters (3-7).
