MANAMA, Bahrain — Scottie Thompson proved clutch yet again as he steered Ginebra past Rain or Shine, 102-100, to secure a spot in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup playoffs Wednesday night at the Khalifa Sports City here.
The former league MVP scored the Kings’ last four points, none more important than the booming trey off a broken play for the 101-100 lead with 7.4 seconds left that put them ahead permanently after trailing by as many as 14 points.
He then went on to split his shots from the line on purpose to prevent the Elasto Painters from setting up a proper shot as time expired, enabling the crowd darlings to complete the comeback–and formalize their quarterfinal entry.
Thompson finished with all-around numbers of 16 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and two steals as the NSD spirit was on full display yet again, much to the delight of appreciative fans that trooped to the venue.
(C) PBA Images
“That was a big shot by Scottie, the stepback three,” head coach Tim Cone told Tiebreaker Times shortly after the match. “I was just hoping he’d make two, but he turned around and made a three. So that was really something.”
Preserved by the Davaoeno star’s heroics were the efforts particularly of RJ Abarrientos, who finished with a game-high 25 points, four rebounds, and four assists as he powered the rally from down 92-83 with 3:52 to go in the game.
Abarrientos scored 12 of their 15 points from that deficit, capped by a three-point play off a Felix Lemetti foul–a call heavily questioned by the entire Rain or Shine brain trust–to tie things up at 98-all with 46.5 seconds remaining.
They did trail afterward at 98-100, however, following Adrian Nocum’s nifty layup on the other end. But then came Thompson with the back-breaking trifecta, followed by Japeth Aguilar’s contest on Nocum’s attempt to retake the lead.
Thompson going 1/2 from the line with 1.3 seconds left and the opposition no longer having any timeout left were all enough for the Kings to come away with the crucial triumph, which actually completed the entire quarterfinal picture.
Ginebra finalized the eight-team cast for the next round, eliminating Titan Ultra (4-6) which, coincidentally, will be its next opponent in the final elimination round game this Sunday, December 21, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
But even if the traditional contenders have already accomplished what they needed to do in this special trip, Cone and his charges are still looking to finish strong against the Giant Risers to keep their Top Four aspirations alive.
“We still have one more game when we return against Titan. If we can beat Titan, that would put us at 7-4, and who knows? Maybe we have a chance–I don’t know if we do or not–for the top four,” the champion mentor said.
“But the bottom line is that we’re starting to play better basketball,” added Cone, whose side dropped 37 in just the deciding frame. “We have won, what, four in a row now? And that’s gonna give us momentum for the playoffs, I hope.”
Stephen Holt contributed 15 points and seven assists while Aguilar added eight points, 12 rebounds, and all three of the team’s blocks in the victory.
(C) PBA Images
Put to naught by the loss was the balanced attack of Rain or Shine which saw a total of six players finish with at least 10 points, led by the 14 of Lemetti.
Lemetti scored nine of his points in the third, which saw the Elasto Painters put together one impressive quarter to end as much with a 12-point advantage before pushing their lead to its biggest at 79-65 early in the fourth.
Nocum and Jhonard Clarito had 13 points apiece, with the latter adding 10 rebounds to his name for back-to-back double-double showings.
Caelan Tiongson had 11 points before fouling out with 3:04 to spare–fouls were his major issue after incurring three in just the first. Gian Mamuyac made 11 as well, while Santi Santillan chipped in 10 markers and eight boards.
As tough as the loss was, RoS are nonetheless assured of a top two finish–and a win-once incentive–thanks to their 101-92 win against Magnolia last Monday.
The Scores:
Ginebra 102 – Abarrientos 25, Thompson 16, Holt 15, Torres 9, Gray 8, J.Aguilar 7, Cu 6, Rosario 6, Estil 5, David 4, Pinto 0.
Rain or Shine 100 – Lemetti 14, Clarito 13, Nocum 13, Tiongson 11, Mamuyac 11, Santillan 10, Norwood 9, Asistio 7, Porter 5, Caracut 3, Malonzo 2, Belga 2.
Quarterscores: 23-18, 49-49, 65-77, 102-100.
