BARANGAY Ginebra showed composure in the face of a Phoenix comeback to pick up a crucial 102-93 win on Sunday in the PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup at the University of Santo Tomas Quadricentennial Pavilion.
RJ Abarrientos knocked down a game-tying three with 2:43 left after the Gin Kings fell behind by eight points before Troy Rosario and Stephen Holt followed suit with clutch baskets of their own to help Ginebra regain control.
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The Gin Kings led by as many as 18 points and did just enough to enter the FIBA break with a 3-4 win-loss record - good for a share of seventh place with Meralco. Ginebra's win also enabled NLEX and Rain or Shine to clinch quarterfinal berths.
Barangay Ginebra was trailing, 85-77, after a 9-0 Phoenix run but responded just in time with Abarrientos nailing a three to tie the game at 91, and Rosario scoring the go-ahead basket on a putback with 1:23 left.
Holt drained a huge three-pointer to pad the lead to five and finally close out a game and a much-needed win before Ginebra coach Tim Cone shifts his focus to Gilas Pilipinas' campaign in the Fiba World Cup Asian qualifiers.
“We’ve had problems all conference long closing games, playing in the fourth quarter. We have not played well in the fourth quarter. The two wins that we had prior to this were blowouts. We didn’t have to play in the fourth quarter under pressure,” Cone said.
“We pretty much lost our games in the fourth quarter. But today, we lost the early part of the fourth, came back, and was able to make big plays down the stretch,” said Cone.
Ginebra’s win spoiled the effort of Ricci Rivero, who had a career-high 28 points for the Fuelmasters. Jason Perkins added 17 points and 11 rebounds.
The scores:
Barangay Ginebra 102 – Abarrientos 25, Thompson 19, Holt 17, Rosario 14, Gray 13, J. Aguilar 11, Torres 3, Estil 0, David 0, Pinto 0, Cu 0.
Phoenix 93 – Rivero 28, Perkins 17, Ballungay 12, Tio 12, Tuffin 10, Jazul 4, Santos 2, Nelle 2, Ando 2, Caperal 2, Daves 2, Garcia 0, Manganti 0, Escandor 0, Kwekuteye 0.
Quarters: 27-19; 50-42; 75-70; 102-93.
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