The 2020 PBA Philippine Cup bubble featured many exciting games, but there was really that one match that can be remembered for a long while.
And for the PBA Press Corps, that is none other than the winner-take-all Game Five of the semifinals between fierce rivals Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Meralco that went down to the wire.
With that, the men and women covering the PBA beat named the match as the Game of the Bubble in the PBA Press Corps Annual Awards Night, Sunday.
There, Scottie Thompson had his own Justin Brownlee moment, nailing a corner triple with 0.6 seconds remaining to tow the Gin Kings to a thrilling 83-80 victory — and on to the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup Finals.
“Tinira ko lang and si God na ang naka-shoot nun,” said Thompson, who finished with 20 points on a 46-percent clip along with 12 rebounds, seven assists, and a steal in that game.
That win also showed that Ginebra continues to have the number of the Bolts, whom they have beaten in three of the last four Governors’ Cup Finals, including the 2019 battle that ended in just five games.
Heartbreaking, indeed, was that defeat for the Bolts, who had actually tied the game at 80-all with 14.5 seconds left thanks to Reynel Hugnatan’s three-pointer, only for Thompson to bring them the bitter memories of 2016.
“Of course the first championship with the Justin shot, that’s the crème de la crème,” Coach Tim Cone said.
“But this one is right there, close to it. And I’m just so happy for Scottie, being the one to make the shot.”
Cone and PBA chairman Ricky Vargas, on behalf of Meralco.
