STEPHEN Holt drained a buzzer-beating three in overtime as Barangay Ginebra broke Converge's heart in overtime, 99-98, on Sunday and reached the PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup semfinals at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Holt sent the Ginebra fateful into wild celebrations at the Big Dome after calmly knocking down the three-pointer from the top of the free-throw line at the buzzer, completing a comeback from a 95-89 deficit in the final 1:38 left of overtime.
"It felt miraculous," said Ginebra coach Tim Cone after another never-say-die performance that enabled the Kings to overcome a twice-to-win disadvantage and arrange a best-of-seven semifinal against top seed San Miguel Beer.
Juan Gomez de Liano appeared to have led Converge to a win not once but twice, completing a three-point play late in regulation for a three-point lead, then hitting a four-pointer with 1:38 left in extra time for a 95-89 lead.
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But it still wasn't enough to lead the fourth-seeded FiberXers to a first-ever appearance in a PBA semifinals.
A split from the stripe by Justine Baltazar with 8 seconds left, 98-96, left the door open for Ginebra, and Holt took advantage by faking off MJ Garcia then calmly hitting the game-winning trey over a chasing Baltazar at the buzzer.
WATCH:
Ginebra got a new lease on life in regulation when Jeremiah Gray calmly knocked down three free throws with 3.4 seconds left after he was inexplicably fouled by Alec Stockton while attempting a fallaway three from the right corner.
Holt’s three was only his second conversion of the game. He was 1-of-7 prior to that heroic shot and eventually finished with nine points in a game which Ginebra finished without stars Scottie Thompson and Japeth Aguilar who fouled out one after another.
RJ Abarrientos topscored with 20 points, while Thompson added 13 points and eight assists. Jayson David had 13 points before leaving the game with a dislocated shoulder.
The scores:
Barangay Ginebra 99 – Abarrientos 20, Thompson 13, David 13, Rosario 12, J. Aguilar 10, Holt 9, Gray 9, Torres 8, Cu 4, Estil 1, Pinto 0.
Converge 98 – Gomez de Liano 25, Concepcion 18, Arana 15, Baltazar 13, Caralipio 11, Stockton 8, Winston 6, Racal 2, Garcia 0, Muyang 0, Manuel 0, Delos Santos 0, Eguilos 0.
Quarters: 19-21; 39-40; 68-60; 86-86; 99-98.
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