BARANGAY Ginebra pulled off a 73-71 win over San Miguel despite trailing by 18 points in the first half of Game One of their PBA 49th Season Philippine Cup semifinal series at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Troy Rosario made two free throws with 1:21 left to give Ginebra the lead for good, 72-71, in a wild ending to a grind-out, low-scoring match-up before Japeth Aguilar and Stephen Holt helped put the win to bed.
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Aguilar made a big block on June Mar Fajardo in the next play. Jamie Malonzo missed two free throws but a Rosario hustle play kept the possession for Ginebra, which got a Holt free throw and deliberate miss to run out the final 1.5 seconds.
The clutch finish completed the Gin Kings' comeback from a 43-25 hole in the second quarter. The team didn't taste the lead until Holt hit a three-pointer - his first field goal of the game - for a 70-69 count with two minutes left.
Cjay Perez made a lay-up on the next play but Rosario earned a trip to the line after being fouled by June Mar Fajardo.
Ginebra also got the breaks in the end game. After Jamie Malonzo missed two free throws with 4.5 seconds left, the Gin Kings regained the possession after the ball went out of bounds off Perez. Holt nailed one free throw to settle the final score, with Fajardo’s desperate heave nowhere close to the rim.
Aguilar had 18 points, nine rebounds, and a block, while Scottie Thompson came alive on offense with 16 points while grabbing eight boards for the Gins, who will stake their early lead in the semifinal series on Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Ginebra coach Tim Cone said the team took advantage of the lengthy absence of Fajardo after he sat out starting at the 8:31-mark of the fourth before returning later in the game.
Shortly after he was taken out, the Gin Kings went on a 9-0 run capped by that Holt three entering the final two minutes.
“We saw that June Mar was getting treatment on the sidelines. We took advantage of the time that he was absent on the floor to get back in the game. When he is on the floor, it’s really, really tough,” said Cone.
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Perez had 21 points and seven rebounds in the loss. Juami Tiongson and Jericho Cruz added 12 points apiece for the Beermen.
Fajardo went just 3-of-10 from the field and scored nine points and grabbed 19 rebounds, but risks a lengthy absence after sustaining a calf injury.
The scores:
Barangay Ginebra 73 – J. Aguilar 18, Thompson 16, Malonzo 14, Rosario 7, R. Aguilar 6, Holt 4, Abarrientos 2, Pinto 2, Gray 2, Adamos 2, Ahanmisi 0, David 0.
San Miguel 71 – Perez 21, Tiongson 12, Cruz 12, Trollano 9, Fajardo 6, Ross 5, Lassiter 3, Cahilig 3, Tautuaa 0, Brondial 0, Calma 0.
Quarters: 19-29; 37-45; 56-60; 73-71.
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