Jay R. Gotera MANILA — The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings unleashed a late barrage of three-pointers to turn back the resurgent Barako Bull Energy Cola, 90-83, Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum to tighten its grip on the top spot in the PLDT myDSL-PBA Philippine Cup. Down by eight points, 60-68, at the start of the fourth quarter, the Kings detonated a 30-15 bomb as their long-range gunners finally hit their marks, cracking open the zone defense employed by the Barako Bull en route to their 10th victory in 12 games. The Kings drilled 13 three-pointers in the game, compensating for the Energy Cola's 56-53 edge in rebounds. The Kings moved to within a win of clinching one of two top spots with the twice-to-beat advantage in the playoffs. They could put a lock on the top spot by winning just one of their two remaining assignments against GlobalPort Friday and Talk N Text Sunday. Rookie center Greg Slaughter led Ginebra with 14 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals. Mark Caguioa also scored 14 points, while Japeth Aguilar finished with 13 points and 10 boards. Chris Ellis and LA Tenorio added 11 points apiece. The Energy Cola dropped to a 5-8 win-loss card, tying GlobalPort at seventh to eighth spot in the standings. Dennis Miranda paced the Energy Cola with 16 points, six rebounds and seven assists. JC Intal, one of eight former Kings now playing for Barako Bull, added 15 points and eight boards. GlobalPort 91, Alaska 88 Backup center Kelly Nabong played the hero's role for the GlobalPort Batang Pier, draining two crucial free throws, to lead his team to a down-the-wire 91-88 win in overtime over the Alaska Aces in the first match of the Sunday double-header. Nabong finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds and three assists as he made up for the absence of star forward Jay Washington, who has been sidelined for the rest of the conference with a plantar fascia foot injury. Nabong's basket with 2.4 seconds left in regulation also sent the game into overtime. The Batang Pier kept their playoff hopes alive with their fifth win in 13 games, with only one game left in their elimination schedule. The Aces moved on the brink of elimination with their ninth loss in 13 outings. They now must beat Barako Bull in their final elimination-round game and hope that GlobalPort loses its last match against Barangay Ginebra to gain a spot in the playoffs. Sol Mercado also played a crucial role in GlobalPort's victory as he intercepted the final Alaska inbound pass that prevented the Aces from launching a possible game-tying three-pointer. Mercado finished with 11 points. Rookie Terrence Romeo led Globalport with 18 points, while Eric Menk added 10 and Jaypee Belencion nine. The Aces played minus last season's Rookie of the Year Calvin Abueva, who sat out the game due to a sprained ankle. Jvee Casio and Sonny Thoss led Alaska with 21 points apiece. Games Wednesday (Jan. 15): Rain or Shine vs. Meralco Bolts; and Petron Blaze vs. San Mig Coffee.
