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Barangay Ginebra and Alaska face off for the last spot in the Philippine Cup semifinals. Photo by Josh Albelda, ABS-CBN Sports.

MANILA, Philippines -- Only one spot remains open for the 2017 Philippine Cup semifinals, either Alaska or Ginebra will take it as the PBA quarterfinals continue Tuesday at the Big Dome.

Following a huge 85-81 win last Sunday, the Gin Kings have erased Alaska's twice-to-beat advantage to set up this knockout game vs. the Aces.

The winner will move on to face the Star Hotshots in the next round.

Down by as much as 17 points in Antipolo City, the Gin Kings once again proved their never say die spirit to steal the victory from Alaska.

Still, the Aces were the no. 2 team in the All-Filipino for a reason so don't expect Alaska to not fight for its playoff life.

The lone Tuesday night game at the Araneta Coliseum is set to tip off at 7:00 p.m.

This article originally appeared on the ABS-CBN Sports website.

For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.

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Aces, Gin Kings fight for last semis spot in knockout game - ABS-CBN News

Basketball

By Paul Lintag on Feb 05, 2017 09:48 PM

Antipolo City --- The barangay worked its magic again.

Down by as much as 17 points, no. 7 Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel rode a big second-half effort to shock no. 2 Alaska, 85-81, in the 2017 PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals Sunday at the Ynares Center here.

After managing only 29 points in the first half, the Gin Kings exploded for 33 in the third period alone, outscoring the Aces by 20 points to completely erase a 33-50 disadvantage and go up 62-54 entering the final quarter.

Jvee Casio would carry the fight for Alaska in the final 12 minutes, cutting the Ginebra lead to two, 78-80, with a little over two minutes to go.

That's when things got wild.

First, Sol Mercado fed Kevin Ferrer for a nice baseline floater to give Ginebra a four-point lead. Moments later, Mercado took it upon himself to score another layup for what should have been a more comfortable 84-78 cushion with 44.8 seconds left.

After the Aces closed in, 81-84, the Gin Kings had the chance to ice the game with Mercado at the stripe for two.

He ended up missing both free throws before Japeth Aguilar grabbed a crucial offensive rebound to put LA Tenorio back to the line for another pair of charities.

Although Tenorio wound up only making one, it was enough for the Gin Kings to hold on, forcing a knockout game set for Tuesday at the Big Dome.

Tenorio finished with a team-high 16 points for Ginebra while Aguilar and Scottie Thompson scored 15 apiece. Mercado added 12.

"It was tough out there. Basically all we've done is just tie the series. Now it's all tied up, and that's what we had to do, we had to tie the series. So we just have another game. We're not gonna be happy about this one, we're not gonna be cheering or high-fiving. Because basically all we did was tie the series," head coach Tim Cone said.

Abueva led the Aces with 20 points and Casio came through for 16.

The scores:

GINEBRA 85 - Tenorio 16, Thompson 15, Aguilar 15, Mercado 12, Devance 10, Marcelo 6, Helterbrand 5, Ferrer 2, Cruz 2, Caguioa 2, Ellis 0, Taha 0.

ALASKA 81 - Abueva 20, Casio 16, Thoss 9, Cruz 9, Manuel 9, Pascual 6, Hontiveros 6, Exciminiano 3, Racal 3, Magat 0, Mendoza 0, Galliguez 0, Jazul 0.

Quarterscores: 13-23, 29-41, 62-54, 85-81

---

Follow this writer on Twitter, @paullintag8

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NSD alive and well as Ginebra forces KO game vs. Aces - ABS-CBN Sports

Rain or Shine's James Yap fires a jumper against the GlobalPort Batang Pier. Photo courtesy of the PBA Media Bureau

MANILA, Philippines A three-game losing streak has plunged the Rain or Shine locker room into frustration but the Elasto Painters remain confident that they can work out their issues in time for the PBA Philippine Cup playoffs.

Rain or Shine's losing streak hit three games on Sunday, after a 99-117 loss to GlobalPort that saw them give up a career-high 44 points to Terrence Romeo. They had previously dropped games to league-leading San Miguel and woeful Meralco.

Their loss to GlobalPort puts Rain or Shine (5-5) in a must-win situation heading into Wednesday's game against Alaska (6-4), as they still need a victory in order to clinch a quarterfinals seat.

Otherwise, they may find themselves in a knockout game against Blackwater (5-6) for the last berth in the playoffs.

"Frustration," Gabe Norwood answered quickly when asked about the mood in ROS's locker room. "We're all disappointed in ourselves."

"Medyo struggling kami ngayon, and medyo 'di maganda ang tinatakbo ng team," admitted Jeff Chan.

Coach Caloy Garcia has called out players for "playing for themselves," and veteran big man Beau Belga expressed his disappointment at their defense as well. James Yap, for his part, acknowledged that the Elasto Painters lacked communication inside the court, further compounding their problems.

Chan won't deny that their losing streak has come at perhaps the worst possible time, but he is also optimistic that they can bounce back.

"May tiwala ako sa team," he said. "We'll find ways."

"May kaunting (frustration), pero hindi reason 'yun," he added. "For me, kailangan talaga magkaroon ng sense of urgency now."

Norwood noted that though the Elasto Painters may be frustrated right now, the answer to their problems still lies within their own team.

"I told the guys in the locker room that we have problems tonight, but the answer is also in our locker room. We can easily step up in the next game and take care of business and be in a great spot," he said.

"We got a lot of tough guys and we just gotta continue to rely on one another to get it done," he added.

Moreover, Norwood noted that this is not the first time that Rain or Shine has dealt with adversity. They memorably started with a 1-3 record in last season's Commissioner's Cup, but still went on to win the championship in that conference.

"I'll go to battle with these guys any day of the week," Norwood said emphatically.

"We're just going through some things, and we have to figure some things out. But at the end of the day, hopefully we can get this next one, and in the playoffs, anything can go," he added.

Yap, for his part, stressed that the Elasto Painters need to put their recent struggles behind them and put all their focus on Alaska.

"Ngayon, medyo tagilid kami. So hindi na namin iisipin 'yung bagay na 'yun. Kailangan, sa Alakas pa lang, ibuhos na namin 'yung mga natutunan namin sa basketball, para makapasok sa quarterfinals," he said.

(For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.)

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ROS players stay upbeat despite losing streak - ABS-CBN News

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A former Missouri State University student who said he was the victim of a so-called "knockout game" attack outside a 2012 fraternity party has been awarded $1.63 million in damages, though he likely will collect only $630,000.

The lawyers representing Trevor Godfrey, 25, said in a news release the Omicron Kappa chapter of Omega Psi Phi didn't do enough to create a safe environment at the party before Godfrey was struck from behind and knocked unconscious, the Springfield News-Leader reported.

The Omicron Kappa chapter was the sole defendant after Omega Psi Phi and several individuals were dismissed from the suit before the case went to trial recently. Godfrey's attorney, Steve Garner, said $1 million in punitive damages aren't covered by the fraternity's insurance and can't be collected, though insurance covers the $630,000 in actual damages.

"MSU has great rules to protect those who attend fraternity and sorority parties and those who come in contact with the party. In fact, I cannot imagine any rules that are better," Garner wrote in an email. "This was an instance where the rules were not followed and there was no security to monitor this party. I have nothing negative to say about this fraternity."

Hal Meltzer, an attorney for the Omicron Kappa chapter, didn't immediately return a phone message from The Associated Press.

Springfield police said no charges were filed, and the case is closed. A Springfield police report said people attending the party reported they didn't see or know anything. A responding officer wrote in the report that besides finding Godfrey bloodied and "very disoriented," another person reported he also had been struck in the head.

MSU president Clif Smart said around the time of the attack the administration did everything it could to "help find out who the assailant is" but was unsuccessful.

Information from: Springfield News-Leader, http://www.news-leader.com

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$1.6 million award in 'knockout game' lawsuit against frat - Southeast Missourian

Shaka Hislop remains convinced Real Madrid are locks to win La Liga, even with mounting injury concerns. La Liga leaders Real Madrid hold on to their lead provided by Sergio Ramos' first-half brace to fend off Malaga.

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane admitted that while the news of more injuries had him "annoyed," he is confident the squad will play well under pressure for Wednesday's Copa del Rey quarterfinal second leg at Celta Vigo.

Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to feature despite a painful foot problem, but James Rodriguez was ruled out with another calf muscle issue and Zidane said that the mood was low afterMarcelo and Luka Modric limped out of Saturday's underwhelming 2-1 La Liga win over Malaga.

Zidane's side travel to Vigo with an injury list which also includes first teamers Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, Marcelo, Dani Carvajal and Pepe, and will face an in-form Celta side which were good value for their shock 2-1 first leg win at the Bernabeu last week.

At his prematch news conference, Zidane said that the team were now aiming to put injuries behind them and qualify for the last four.

"It's true I was down on Saturday when I saw players injured, and unhappy," Zidane said. "I am annoyed to be missing some players, yes. But we cannot do anything about it, during a season this happens.

"That affects me, but just for one day. Those players who have less chance to play, they have been doing well. It will be difficult, at 1-2 behind, but we like these type of games, to have a result to overcome. It is a good situation sometimes, knowing that it's a knockout game with everything on the line."

Zidane confirmed that Ronaldo had suffered a painful bang to his foot in Saturday's game, and sat out training on Monday, but there was no thought of holding the Portugal captain back for next weekend's La Liga fixture at home to in-form Real Sociedad.

"If Cristiano is fit he will be with us," he said. "He got a bang, has been feeling it until now, although it is not an injury. We are just thinking about tomorrow's game, we will not throw any competition, that is for sure."

Zidane confirmed reports from Colombia's Radio Caracol that James, who has already missed two weeks with what was first said to be a minor calf muscle problem, now faces a further three weeks out having suffered a similar injury to his other calf.

"James has a problem with his other leg, it is a strain, not a [serious] injury, which is the good part," Zidane said. "When you have something on one side it can affect the other, which has happened to James. We hoped to have him back on Monday, but it has not been possible. He is also upset as he wanted to be back."

Madrid's situation is also complicated by youth team full-back Alvaro Tejero facing a ban having spat at an opponent when playing for Castilla last weekend. Zidane said that little-used Fabio Coentrao could make a rare appearance, in a season in which he has found it difficult to get match-fit following a long layoff last term.

"Tomorrow [Coentrao] will be with us," he said. "After his long injury, the demands of the training can cause him problems. That is normal after five or six months out. He wants to play, but sometimes his body means he has to stop a bit. Which has happened lately."

Zidane dismissed a question asking whether he was worried that the demanding preparation methods of fitness coach Antonio Pintus were to blame for the current spate of injuries at the Bernabeu.

"If we need to work we work, if we should rest we rest," he said. "It's true we have many injuries lately. I am responsible for all this, all of the staff do their best for the players. We must not be worried and continue with the players we have. Physically we are very good and we will keep going like this."

Dermot Corrigan is a Madrid-based football writer who covers La Liga and the Spain national team for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @dermotmcorrigan

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James, Ronaldo woes don't worry Zidane - ESPN FC