Leroy Hickerson knocked in two free throws in the final 11.7 seconds, and Billy Mamaril, in his first game playing against his former team, erased an Enrico Villanueva layup on the other end that preserved the win, just the Express’ fourth in 17 games.

But it could be all that Air21 would need to make the wildcard safely, as the Express moved up half-a-game  ahead on Barako Coffee, which stayed in the cellar with a 3-13 card.

Ginebra’s loss was the eighth also in 17 games, and it put the Kings into a virtual do-or-die situation against sister squad Derby Ace next week as another loss would give idle Rain or Shine and Coca-Cola the chance to tie them for the last outright quarterfinal spot.

“It was a hard win and we needed it,” Air21 coach Yeng Guiao told reporters later. “This victory also showed that we can play hard basketball in the endgame and win it, unlike in our earlier games where we failed to close out opponents.” Hickerson finished with 33 points and 10 rebounds, actually scoring the last 12 Air21 points in a mammoth effort  that has made experts wonder what the fortunes of the Express would have been had he arrived right at the start of the tournament.

Doug Kramer, another Ginebra discard, played his finest offensive game this season with 16 points that went with 17 rebounds – 11 of them on the offensive  end – both career-high marks that gave the Express a chance in the endgame.

Kramer’s 16 points also tied his career-best.

Mark Caguioa led the Kings with 21 points and import Denham Brown struggled by posting just 11 markers.  Brown had the chance to win the game for the Kings after Mamaril missed two free throws seconds after that brilliant  defensive gem, but he missed a three-pointer from halfcourt  at the buzzer.

“All we wanted to do was to get some distance on Barako Coffee,” Guiao added. “We were able to do that and earn some character at the same time.” The elimination round enters its homestretch this week, and Alaska made it more interesting earlier after churning out a 103-95 decision of Sta. Lucia.

Alaska overhauled a 20-point second quarter deficit riding Cyrus Baguio and Diamon Simpson, as the Aces won a third straight game to climb to 11-6 overall and move within a full game of second-running San Miguel Beer.

Derby Ace is in third spot with an 11-5 card, and the Llamados need to win their last two games to eliminate Alaska from the race and assure themselves of at least a playoff with the Beermen for the No. 2 spot and the right to join Talk ‘N Text in the Final Four outright.

One loss by the Llamados and a victory by Alaska over San Miguel would involve the Aces in a possible three-way tie for the No. 2 spot. And in that case, Derby Ace would be the one which will miss the playoff and drop into the quarterfinals by virtue of a lower quotient.

“It (making the semifinals outright) is not in our control though, we can’t control Purefoods (Derby Ace),” Alaska coach Tim Cone said. “Right now, we just want to get the seeding that we can and take it from there.

“If Purefoods (Derby Ace) loses a game, things will start being in our control.” Baguio and Simpson combined for all of six of Alaska’s 31 second quarter points as the Aces climbed out of a 28-48 hole to take an 81-80 lead into the fourth period.

Sta. Lucia, which dropped to 5-12, is still well inside wildcard range.

But Sunday night’s loss would be a bitter one for the Realtors to take after they started with all guns cocked and firing.

Sta. Lucia made 11 triples in the first half alone, the last of those coming from undrafted rookie Josh Urbiztondo for that 20-point lead with 6:08 left in the first half.