RJ Abarrientos delivered in the clutch yet again to tow Barangay Ginebra past Magnolia, 91-89, for its third win in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup before a good crowd at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay on Friday night.
Last season’s Rookie of the Year finished with 19 points, none more important than his layup off a Scottie Thompson inbound with 6.3 seconds to go, which broke the 89-all deadlock as he found redemption from the blunder prior.
The game got tied due to his shooting foul on Mark Barroca and the veteran made him pay for it by going a perfect 3-for-3 from the charity stripe, enabling the Hotshots to get even after being down by as many as 15 points.
But then, Abarrientos made sure to bounce back, and sealing the deal for the Kings was Jerom Lastimosa’s turnover as his pass got intercepted.
“That was the play set up,” said Coach Tim Cone. “It was either him off the curl or Justin off the pop. Scottie made a great pass and RJ made the shot.”
