RJ Abarrientos struck the dagger in the waning moments as Ginebra took down TNT in a thriller, 93-86, to clinch the no. 2 seed entering the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals at the Mall of Asia Arena, Sunday night.
The star guard knocked down the booming triple off an inbound to push their lead to 91-83 with exactly 48.0 seconds remaining — more than enough to come away with the victory and finish the eliminations with back-to-back wins.
Troy Rosario went on to settle the final count with a cleanup of his own miss with 7.9 seconds left as the crowd darlings ended the preliminaries with a 9-2 record, having won seven of their final eight games of the said round.
And by finishing in second, the Barangay will be taking on the seventh-seed in the Phoenix Fuel Masters as the quarterfinal picture has finally settled.
(C) PBA Images
“We didn’t talk at all about who we’ll play,” Coach Tim Cone said. “We just wanted to come out and play up to our standard, and make sure we put a good game together. Everybody on the floor did their job. I’m really pleased.
“As it turns out, we end up playing against Phoenix, and they have been good all conference long,” added the champion mentor. “We know we have our work cut out for us. But right now we’re just focused on playing one game.”
Justin Brownlee led Ginebra with 18 points and 15 rebounds. Abarrientos fired 17 points on his way to earning Player of the Game honors.
Norbert Torres chipped in 10 as production came from all over, with Scottie Thompson and Isaac Go adding nine points apiece. Meanwhile, Ralph Cu barely missed out on a double-double as he had seven points and 12 rebounds.
“Ginagawa lang namin at pinaguusapan namin as a team is we just play our game, bumalik kami sa fundamentals namin,” said Abarrientos.
The victory was also their way of welcoming back Japeth Aguilar after suffering a lung injury against Blackwater last April 24. He even started and went on to finish with six points and three rebounds in 15 minutes.
Soon, the Kings will turn their attention to Charles Tiu & Co., whom they’re scheduled to face on Friday, May 15, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
(C) PBA Images
Bol Bol, on the other hand, had 33 points on 28 shots and 10 rebounds plus five blocks to lead TNT. The Tropang 5G will enter the playoffs as the No. 8 seed, setting up a meeting with top dogs NLEX with a twice-to-win disadvantage.
Calvin Oftana was the only other player in double figures with 11 points, as their problem this conference — limited involvement and production from the locals — reared its ugly head once more in a game this crucial for them.
The defending champions did fight back from 15 down and got to within a point, 78-77, behind Jayson Castro, early in the fourth. But the tandem of Brownlee and Aguilar kept them at bay with hits from close range.
Bol tried to will the team back and made it just a three-point gap, 86-83, with 3:27 to go, but that proved to be their last stand as Abarrientos took over.
Last season’s Rookie of the Year first sank a high-looper a la trick shot over Bol. He then came through with the dagger triple to ice the game, eventually dealing the Tropang 5G their third straight loss — tough form entering the quarters.
The Scores:
Ginebra 93 – Brownlee 18, Abarrientos 17, Torres 10, Go 9, Thompson 9, Cu 7, Holt 6, J.Aguilar 6, Rosario 5, Pinto 2, Carino 2, Estil 2, Abis 0, Gray 0.
TNT 86 – Bol 33, Oftana 11, Castro 9, Ferrer 8, Heading 6, Nambatac 5, Aurin 5, Galinato 5, Quitevis 4, Khobuntin 0, Enciso 0, Williams 0, Nieto 0, Chua 0.
Quarterscores: 29-26, 56-45, 76-64, 93-86.
