SMB tightens Top 4 race with rout of Ginebra

Mo Tautuaa once again lorded over the paint. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--San Miguel joined an already stacked middle of the PBA table after disrupting Ginebra, 81-66, on Sunday night at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center.

The Beermen shut the Barangay down in the final period, holding them to just 10 points--and no field goals within the first six minutes of the final frame--to preserve the win after the latter nearly completed a third quarter comeback.

Mo Tautuaa put up 20 points, 11 rebounds, and one block for SMB, which is now part of a four-way tie for fourth place at 6-4.

The team can officially barge into the quarterfinals with a win over NorthPort on Tuesday night, but on whether it can finish in the Top 4, which would mean a twice-to-beat advantage in the next round, will now lie on the other results.

Marcio Lassiter added 12 points, one rebound, and two assists, but he was 4-of-17 from the field.

Chris Ross chipped in 14 rebounds and 11 points with four assists and four steals.

Bambam Gamalinda also had a double-double of 11 points on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting and 10 rebounds with two assists and one steal.

Japeth Aguilar put up 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting, five rebounds, three assists, and three blocks for Ginebra, which fell back to a tie for first place with TNT at 7-3.

However, by virtue of their Friday night win over the Tropang Giga, the Barangay hold the tiebreaker and can finally seal the top seed with a Monday night win against the Terrafirma Dyip.

Scottie Thompson came just close to a triple-double with 12 points, 10 assists for the double-double, and nine rebounds with one steal.

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