NARDS Pinto became an unlikely hero for Barangay Ginebra on Friday in its close win over Blackwater that stretched the Gins' winning streak to four games.
With Ginebra clinging on to a precarious two-point lead, 110-108, after a four-point shot by Blackwater star Sedrick Barefield, Pinto knocked down a wide-open three-pointer of his own with 2:07 remaining in the game.
It was a huge bounce-back by Pinto since he had more or less the same open shot, but on the right wing, at the final three-minute mark against a Blackwater team that dared him to beat them by double-teaming off him in every possession.
He did.
A Bossing double team on Justin Brownlee left Pinto wide open again, but this time the former Blackwater player made them pay dearly, calmly sinking the three,then imitating the 'flying bird' celebration of import Robert Upshaw as he stared at the Blackwater bench.
Prior to the three, the Ginebra back-up guard was 0-for-3 from the field and eventually finished with five points, his lone conversion going down as the biggest of the match.
“Na-tsambahan lang,” said Pinto, who played for Blackwater from 2016 to 2018. “Kasi yun yata ang game plan nila coach Pat (Aquino). Open ako, hindi puwedeng hindi itira. Blessed naman ako na pumasok yung tira.”
Pinto plays down celebration
Pinto said his staredown on the Blackwater bench was not anything out of the ordinary since he played for the ballclub before and remains close to the coaching staff.
He also has no plans of repeating the ‘celly.’
“Nag-aanuhan kasi kami nila coach Mike (Cortez) at coach Pat. Tagal ako sa Blackwater, di ba? Healthy competition lang 'yun. Asaran lang,” said Pinto.
“Lukso ng dugo lang yun. Wala yun,” said Pinto with a smile.
Pinto has been playing quality minutes off the bench for Ginebra, his role mostly on the defensive end, and has contributed to the Gins' 6-2 win-loss record that tied them with NLEX for second place behind 7-1 Rain or Shine.
“Defense namin at chemistry naman,” said Pinto on the keys to their excellent record. “Si Justin (Brownlee) matagal na sa amin. Kilala na namin isa't isa. Yun ang advantage namin everytime na si Justin ang import namin,” Pinto said.
“Buti nakabalik kami (against Blackwater) dahil sa defense namin,” he added.
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