Ginebra clicked from deep at the right time to thwart the upset-hungry Blackwater, 115-108, for its fourth successive victory in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, Friday night.
The Kings were clinging to a precarious one-point lead until Stephen Holt came in, knocking down back-to-back three-pointers to inflate the cushion to 103-98 with 5:45 remaining in the game, putting them ahead the rest of the way.
RJ Abarrientos hit one as well moments later, but Nards Pinto nailed arguably the most important of them all, a wide-open one from the left wing to repel the Bossing’s late rally and give them the 113-108 lead with 2:09 left to play.
Troy Rosario would settle the eventual scoreline with a bucket from point-blank with 45 seconds to spare, and the crowd darlings went on to complete the comeback after falling to a scorching 23-3 start by the opposition.
(C) PBA Images
“They were ready to come out, we weren’t so ready … we knew they would be because they have the confidence coming from beating San Miguel,” said Coach Tim Cone as Blackwater stunned San Miguel last Wednesday.
“But we were hoping we could wear them down. We really didn’t. We just hit a couple of big shots here and there, and that was the difference in the game.”
Justin Brownlee led GInebra with 21 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. The three-time Best Import was responsible for bringing momentum their way when his cleanup tied things up at 96-all, essentially triggering the decisive run.
Scottie Thompson made 19 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, with Abarrientos supplying 18 points, four rebounds, and seven assists.
Rosario notched a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds on the way to bagging Player of the Game honors. Holt had 13 points, while Japeth Aguilar added 11 markers as six players finished in double digits in the victory.
The Barangay, however, lost Aguilar early due to an unspecified injury, compelling the crew to play without a legitimate center the rest of the way.
(C) PBA Images
Still, they did just enough to hike their record to 6-3, joining NLEX at the second spot of the team standings to make a serious push for a Top Four finish.
And even without their star big man, Cone’s men spoiled the big outing of Robert Upshaw III, who hit three fours and finished with 43 points alongside 14 rebounds and a pair of assists in 41 minutes to lead the Bossing.
Sedrick Barefield had 25 points and 12 assists while Christian David added 15 in the loss, which dropped their record to 2-7, thus making their three remaining games in the eliminations must-win outings to remain in contention.
The Scores:
Ginebra 115 – Brownlee 21, Thompson 19, Abarrientos 18, Rosario 17, Holt 13, J.Aguilar 11, Pinto 5, Gray 4, Cu 3, Go 2, Torres 2.
Blackwater 108 – Upshaw III 43, Barefield 25, David 15, Andrade 8, Zamar 6, Tratter 5, Escoto 2, Una 2, Austria 2.
Quarterscores: 16-26, 50-42, 85-78, 115-108.
