MAVERICK Ahanmisi drained a huge three to help Barangay Ginebra survive the hot-shooting Andre Caracut and Rain or Shine, 107-102, in the PBA Commissioner's Cup on Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ahanmisi hit the three with 54 seconds to go that made it a 103-99 contest and gave the Kings enough buffer to escape with the thrilling win.
"That was the shot of the game," said coach Tim Cone of Ahanmisi's crucial basket.
The Kings still needed a pair of late baskets from Christian Standhardinger and a missed Rain or Shine opportunity that saw Gabe Norwood pull up for an airball with still plenty of seconds left and the Elasto Painters trailing by just three.
Ahanmisi went 5-of-7 from three-point range and was an assist shy of a triple-double with 21 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists.
Import Tony Bishop had a team-high 25 points and 12 rebounds to help Ginebra improve to 2-1 and bounce back from that 93-91 heartbreaker against rival Magnolia.
The Elasto Painters' fourth straight loss spoiled Caracut's career-high of 32 points that was highlighted by a fiery 4-of-6 clip from beyond the arc.
His final trey in the final 24 seconds made it a 105-102 contest.
Rain or Shine had a chance to tie the game after Ginebra turned the ball over as a double-team by Norwood and import DaJuan Summers forced Bishop into a turnover.
Norwood got possession after Summers stole the ball, but - instead of passing to an open teammate for a shot at a tying three-pointer or taking the three-point shot himself - inexplicably pulled up for a 14-foot jumper that didn't even hit the rim with 14 seconds to go.
The sequence led to a Christian Standhardinger basket for the final count.
The scores:
Ginebra (107) - Bishop 25, Ahanmisi 21, Standhardinger 19, J.Aguilar 13, Thompson 12, Malonzo 11, Pringle 6, Pinto 0, Cu 0, Pessumal 0.
Rain or Shine (102) - Caracut 32, Summer 25, Santillan 17, Mamuyac 8, Asistio 6, Clarito 6, Norwood 6, Belga 2, Demusis 0, Belo 0, Nambatac 0.
Quarterscores: 24-26; 49-44; 75-69; 107-102.
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