He did struggle offensively, but there should be no denying how crucial Stephen Holt was in helping Barangay Ginebra dethrone TNT in Game Seven of the Finals on their way to seizing the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup kingship.
Yes, the veteran winger went scoreless, but what people will remember more are his three offensive rebounds in the last five minutes that shut down the Tropang 5G’s comeback bid.
The last two even led to buckets from RJ Abarrientos and Scottie Thompson, all of which contributed to the Kings’ 11-2 blitz to end the game and seal the 88-76 decision, effectively ending the franchise’s three-year title drought.
“It’s just the ability to continue to fight through adversity,” said Holt, who finished with seven rebounds, after the game at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. “Sometimes it doesn’t go your way, but it can affect your attitude, leadership, and work ethic.
“And just trying to win a championship, it’s bigger than me, bigger than my performance, whether it’s good or bad. I just wanted to try and lead this group, just be mentally tough in each moment,” added the 34-year-old.
In the process, Holt finally snared his maiden PBA championship, proving that third time’s the charm after falling short in their last two Finals trips.
The 12-year pro out of Saint Mary’s couldn’t feel any more blessed, as the feat also helped him atone for the past heartbreaks he suffered in Europe, where he spent much of his career before heading to Asia’s first pro league.
(C) PBA Images
“I’ve lost a few Game Sevens in Europe. In Europe, you only get one opportunity for a championship; in the Philippines, you get three,” said Holt. “Even though you get more opportunities here, you just can’t take these moments for granted.
“I’ve been blessed to play in three Finals in five conferences with Ginebra. And I’ve said it since I’ve gone to the PBA for Terrafirma: I’m here to win, do whatever it takes,” added the no. 1 overall pick of the 2023 Rookie Draft.
He did whatever it took to win, no doubt, which the Kings admire about him and trust him for — evidenced by the 39 minutes of playing time he had despite going scoreless.
“Some moments went good, some moments went bad. But at the end of the day, I just wanted to step up for my guys any way I could,” offered Holt, who finished with seven rebounds and a pair of assists as a starter in the decider.
“And that’s who I am as a player. My teammates know that, the coaching staff knows that, and that’s why we’re champions.”
Serving as the cherry on top of his first-ever taste of PBA glory was enjoying it with his fellow ex-Dyip cogs in Isaac Go and Kemark Cariño — two players who should know Holt better than anybody else in this present-day Ginebra crew.
“Those are my brothers,” said the former PBA Rookie of the Year. “They knew who I was as a player, who I am on and off the court and how I lead, and just trying to be positive and work hard and trying to be mentally tough.
“I was super excited, you know, Isaac came in with me in the trade and then eventually we got Kemark as well in the trade this conference,” he added.
“This has been building ever since I got here, and hopefully we continue this path and continue this toughness, this togetherness, and just the ability to continue this NSD spirit.”
