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Brgy. Ginebra stayed right behind second-running Magnolia while sending NorthPort to a 6-6 (win-loss) finish as the Kings clobbered the Batang Pier, 122-105, in a key match in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the PhilSports Arena Sunday.

Behind a strong finishing quarter, the Kings bounced back from an upset by the NLEX Road Warriors the last time out and stayed in the running for a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals with their eighth win against three losses.

Barely ahead at 93-92 after three quarters, Justin Brownlee and his teammates pummeled the Batang Pier, 29-13, in the final canto and thus pulled off the win that sent them to joint third with the Converge FiberXers ahead of their virtual playoff duel Wednesday in the same venue.

A win for Ginebra would give the Kings a chance at salvaging second but also depending on a loss by the Magnolia Hotshots to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the last game of the single-round-robin elims on Friday.

Magnolia claims second spot and joins Bay Area as the teams with a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarters should the Hotshots hurdle the Elasto Painters.

Meanwhile, NorthPort’s bid for a spot in the best-of-three quarterfinals remained in the balance with its defeat in its closing game in the elims.

Their three-game winning streak snapped, Batang Pier skidded to joint sixth with the Phoenix Fuel Masters at 6-6 as San Miguel Beermen gained solo fifth at 6-5.