Fortunately for the Kings, their unpredictable defense spelled the big difference in the end.

Ginebra held Alaska scoreless in the final 2:56, and the Kings momentarily bailed themselves out of trouble in the heated race for the last berth in the playoffs, beating the Aces, 85-77, in the PBA Philippine Cup Wednesday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Kings nearly blew a nine-point lead – a large margin by the game’s standards – early in the fourth quarter, but showcased poised late in the contest to book their fifth win in 10 outings with four games left in the elimination round.

“It was a crucial game for us,” said Kings’ coach Siot Tanquingcen.

“It has the potential to be a do or die. Had we lost, we will be hard-pressed to win all of our remaining games. It was gauge of how we want to stay competitive. All we want is to make the playoffs, and I hope that by the time we’re in the playoffs, we would have remedied whatever needs to be remedied.” The Kings, though, aren’t yet assured of a spot in the next round.

But they did tie Barako Bull in the standings and hand the Aces a huge blow since the 13-time champion franchise suffered its eighth defeat in 11 games to drop at ninth spot.

Alaska, one of only three franchises to have won a Grand Slam, is now in danger of missing the playoffs for only the third time the past 32 conferences. The Aces only failed to advance past the elimination round in the 2009 Fiesta Conference and in the 2006-07 Philippine Cup.

But they only have themselves to blame. They couldn’t convert when needed, and committed a spate of turnovers and ill-advised shots to allow the Kings to escape with the victory that snapped their two-game winning roll.

Ginebra was only ahead 79-77 when Ronald Tubid, who had never registered a single point, came through with a steal and an unmolested lay-up to make it a four-point ball game. Mike Cortez then practically sealed the outcome when he faked off Jay-R Reyes, side-stepped and pulled up for a jumper, with the ball hitting nothing but net for an 83-77 count with 30.5 seconds left in the contest.

Nino Canaleta scored 21 points even though he just shot 8-of-21 from the field, and pulled down eight rebounds while Jay-Jay Helterbrand had 10 points and seven assists for Ginebra, which limited Alaska to only 12 points in the fourth quarter.

Cortez added 13 points and JC Intal contributed 12 for the Kings, who once again struggled to get the numbers from Mark Caguioa. Caguioa, who only had six points in Ginebra’s loss to B-Meg the last time out, only finished with seven points on 3-of-9 shooting, and limped out of the hard-court after suffering a twisted right ankle.

Six players scored in double figures for Alaska, with Sonny Thoss topscoring with 13 points. He also provided seven rebounds while LA Tenorio had 10 points and eight assists.

In a game of splurges, Ginebra was the one that stood solid down the stretch. The Kings were up comfortably – 76-67 and 79-72 – when Alaska made its move.

Tony De La Cruz made it a two-point ball game with 2:56 to go, pushig Alaska to within 79-77.

That, however, was the last time that the Aces scored as the Kings toughened up on their defense while hitting the baskets that mattered the most.

“We need to keep our defenses solid but we also need scoring,” Tanquingcen said.

Meralco discretely is squeezing its way in the race for the top two spots, whipping Barako Bull later in the night, 83-75.

The Bolts, out to make the playoffs for the first time after back-to-back misses from the Commissioner’s Cup last season, unloaded a key 17-2 run bridging the third and fourth quarters to claim their seventh win in 11 matches.

They are within striking distance of joint second placers Rain or Shine and Petron, and half a game ahead of powerhouse B-Meg, which battles the Elasto Painters tomorrow.

“We’ll definitely go for the Nos. 1 or 2 position as long as it is available,” said Bolts’ coach Ryan Gregorio. “Right now, this is the best 11 games this franchise has played so far. We’re not looking at failures right, but we also have to have a grasp at success.” Meralco and Barako Bull, at first, were engaged in a back-and-forth situation, and the two were dead even, 50-50 late in the third quarter.

But the Bolts scooted away with an 11-0 assault closing the period, and then outscored the Energy 6-2 at the start of the fourth to grab control, 67-52. The best Barako Bull could come to was at 80-75 on a triple by Wynne Arboleda in the waning seconds.